Matisse in the 1930's, Philadelphia Art Museum

This exhibit is at the Philadelpohia Art Museum and will be there until the end of January. A large portion of it comes from the Baltimore Art Museum, so if you miss it, head down the coast to Baltimore in a year when they will all be there, but in the meantime learn about Matisse in America! Here is from the museum website: By 1930, Henri Matisse had achieved significant international renown, yet he found himself in a deep creative slump. The turning point came with a commission to decorate the main gallery of the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. The resulting monumental mural, The Dance (1930–33), turned Matisse’s artistic practice around.

Endless Forms: The Secret World of Wasps by Seirian Sumner

I read about this book in a thumbnail description in the The New Yorker, and while I am the target audience for this book--someone who is concerned about pollinators, ecology, and the survival of the world, yet who detests wasps--I wasn't sure this book was up my alley. The author is quite learned--she is an entomologist and behavioral ecologist, and a professor at University College London, and she spends the whole of the book trying to charm her readers into realizing that the pesky, whirring, anxiety-provoking yellow jackets and other species of wasps that torment us at most inopportune moments, are not mischievous villains so much as highly underestimated and misunderstood philanthropists Her invocations of wasp characteristics, behavior, social life and culture sparkle with curiosities and insights and she suggests, in an entertaining rather than scholarly manner, that we need to re-examine our relationships with wasps in particular and with nature in general. Doing so would have profound consequences in an age when technological innovations continue to displace and disrupt the lives of wasps and other species. This compelling account of nature’s coherent beauty teaches that it is time for the utilitarian attitude toward nature to be replaced with appreciation and conservation if we are to survive a rapidly warming planet.

Creamy Garlic Orzo

This was an amazing risotto like dish, which my husband added some chicken to for more of a main dish, but it would work equally well as a side. Ingredients 2 tablespoon olive oil 4 tablespoon butter unsalted 1 small onion chopped 4 cloves garlic minced 2 cups uncooked orzo 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste 2 cups chicken broth 2 cups half and half 1 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated 2 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped In a large skillet add the olive oil, butter and cook for about 30 seconds until the butter melts. Stir in the onion and garlic and let it cook for about 2 minutes until the onion softens and the garlic becomes aromatic. Add the orzo to the skillet and let it cook for about 2 minutes just in the oil so that it starts to toast lightly, this will give it a nutty flavor. Season with salt and pepper then stir in the chicken broth and half and half. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to a medium-low, cover with a lid and let it cook for about 8 minutes. Remove the lid and stir in the Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie

This is the story about a life long friendship between Zahra, the daughter of a popular cricket broadcaster in 1980s Karachi, and her classmate Maryam, the child of a post-partition business family. We meet them first as young teenagers in Pakistan, hanging out after school in each other’s houses, chatting for hours about their current romances and their future lives. Thirty years later, the two of them are comfortably ensconced among the post-Brexit London elite. They go for long walks on Primrose Hill together on Sundays and hang out at each other’s plush apartments after work, still talking about the same things. On the one hand, they could have been broken apart. Maryam is a startup investor, part of a shadowy cabal of capitalists who trade favors with the same government that Zahra and her organization is determined to hold to account. But they chare something in their past that they are eager to not have surface, and then it does. There are a number of twists and turns, with subplots that in the end out pace the plot, and it is a good story well told.

The Good King Tavern, Philadelphia

My spouse and I were in Philadelphia recently trying to show my mother-in-law a good time and we ate at this French bistro in the downtown area. Philadelphia has a wonderful restaurant scene in the area, and there are so many choices to choose from for dining, both in the wide ranging ethnic food options and in the fine dining arena. So a plethora of riches. We chose this place and while it wasn't perfect for me, it was for my two fellow diners and here is why. It was exactly what you would expect from a French bistro, and if you order as such I think you will be very happy here. They have a duck of the day, so you could have that every time. My MIL had a duck pate and a duck breast main course, and if they hadn't run out of the duck heart appetizer, she would have ordered that as well. My spouse had mussels, and they were perfect in every way, and the salad I ordered was a traditional French salad dressing (albeit with more modern greens than you would have been served traditionally), and the frites were exceptional. So if you have a hankering for bistro food, this would be a good place to scratch that itch.

The Foundling by Ann Leary

This book is set in the 1920's America in an institution where women were essentially imprisoned until menopause. It is modeled on the historical institution of Laurelton State Village for Feeble-Minded Women of Childbearing Age, which operated in different forms between 1917 and 1998 in central Pennsylvania. Neither the fictional nor the actual facility are not benevolent group homes for women with intellectual disabilities. Instead, they were a locked facility for those deemed morally unworthy of giving birth. In this case there was a lot of money changing hands, as well as sending these young women into the hands of sexual abusers in exchange for monetary compensation and political clout. Eugenics came to prominence in the United States in the early 20th century, promoted by social reformers as a way of controlling “undesirable” elements. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the 21st century focus on just this, many of these efforts focused on the bodies of women, employing theories closely tied to the pseudoscience of white racial superiority. The setting resonates for the author, who found some evidence that her grandmother has worked in one such facility as a young woman, just like Mary in the fictional account. While the subject matter and the setting are demoralizing, the story itself is largely not, and I would recommend.

Simple Bok Choy Stir Fry

My CSA always grows bok choy in their hoop house in the spring and fall, and I really love the flavor and texture, but I feel like I continue to search for a quick and easy recipe that I can rely on, and this one makes me pretty happy--I think it is the addition of honey that helps to balance out the sweet end of the flavor spectrum. 1 pound baby bok choy 2 tablespoon soy sauce 2 tablespoons broth 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon honey 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 teaspoons minced ginger ¼ cup sliced green onions 1 teaspoon sesame seeds Rinse the bok choy with water. Shaking off any excess water and then dry using a kitchen towel or paper towels. Cut each bok choy, halved lengthwise. In a small bowl combine soy sauce, broth, vinegar, sesame oil, honey, and red chili flakes. In a wok or 12-inch nonstick skillet add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over high heat until just smoking. Use tongs to carefully place the bok choy cut side down in a single layer in the wok, lightly press down to make contact with the surface. Cook until lightly browned without moving, about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the bok choy over and cook the other side until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the wok. Add garlic, ginger and green onions, stir fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the soy sauce mixture to the wok, simmer until thickened, about 30 seconds. Add bok choy back to the wok, stir-fry and cook until the sauce glazes the greens, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and garnish with sesame seeds.

Everyone Brave Is Forgiven by Chris Cleave

I read this based on a review that my niece wrote. This is a historical novel set in London and Malta during the second world war. The story was inspired by the lives of the author's grandparents: his maternal grandfather served in Malta, and his paternal grandmother drove ambulances during the blitz. I really liked many aspects of the story, but most of all the way it made me think, to try to put myself in the shoes of the characters. It explores the ways that external events beyond the individual’s control influence the private lives of his characters, with either devastating or transformative consequences, depending. The novel follows four protagonists from the outbreak of war to the summer of 1942. Mary North is the privileged daughter of an MP who signs up for the war effort within 45 minutes of its declaration. She is assigned a school-teaching job, initially an unappealing prospect but one for which she soon discovers a natural aptitude. Through the job she meets Tom Shaw, head of the local education authority and, despite the class difference – or perhaps because of it, given Mary’s maverick, rebellious nature – the two embark on a love affair. Meanwhile, Tom’s friend and roommate, Alistair Heath, a picture restorer at the Tate, signs up for active duty, eventually deploying to Malta to defend the island amid harrowing and demoralizing conditions. Completing the quartet is Mary’s best friend, Hilda, who is in some ways the odd woman out and in others the voice of the common man, saying things out loud that others think but do not say. The war is long and hard and everyone is roughed up, their virtue assailed, and in end those that live are profoundly changed.

Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

I really did love the first movie, but this one is even better. Enola, Sherlock's ward and younger sister, has a better sense of herself, is more self assured, and there is less of a need to endlessly go over the back story, so there is more time for action. Enola is not a junior Sherlock Holmes (who is also not as gelled as a detective as he was in the original stories. She is her own person, less analytical than he is and more empathetic. She is observant and determined, and she has great fighting skills and a good command of mechanical physics. She also has enormous courage, both physical and moral. The film opens with her racing through the London streets, being chased by two Bobbies. She stops to address us, as she does with great charm and wit throughout. The story is centered on a real historical event. In the movie Enola is tsked with finding Sarah Chapman, who has disappeared from both where she lives and the match stick factory where she works. Sarah was part of The Match Girls’ Strike in 1888. It was an industrial action taken up by the workers of the Bryant and May factory against the dangerous and unrelenting demands which endangered their health with very little remuneration. The rest of the story is fictional, but a nice reminder of where we were and what poor women were exposed to in the work place.

Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy

I did not know this when I read the book, but in 2007, the author started a blog on the LA Times site called Homicide Report, an attempt to chronicle every one of the 845 homicide deaths that took place in Los Angeles County that year. The blog takes a sober, data-driven approach to this most emotive of subjects. She is a decades long crime reported, and already had strong connections with LAPD homicide detectives, which she used to flesh out the entries in the LA county coroner’s database, trying to understand the reasons why people kill and are killed. She also reported on the race of victims--blacks are 8% of the population in Los Angeles, but account for 32% of the murder victims. Who is killing black people? The answer is: mainly other black people. Roiled by a new movement against police brutality, the US is currently burying its head in the sand so as not to have to face up to the disproportionate violence meted out to black Americans by law enforcement. She chooses to tell stories from the most notorious neighborhood in LA, and she does so sympathetically to all involved. This is a detailed look into the workings of an intersection between poverty, racism, crime, and law enforcement that is well worth reading.

Squash Agrodolce

We had this twice one day last week--once for a lunch with our kids, using delicata squash instead of the butternut called for, and once with the traditional butternut, but served without the savory elements, but rather in an apple cider reduction over panna cotta in a restaurant for dessert. This is a delicious autumnal side dish that would be at home on a holiday table. 1 butternut squash, on the small side Olive oil Salt 1 medium red onion sliced thinnly 2 bay leaves 1 cinnnamon stick 1/2 c. sherry vinegar 1/2 c. water 1/4 currants 1 Tbsp. sugar 3 Tbsp. pine nuts Preheat oven to 400 degress and roast the squash tossed with olive oil and salt until it is cooked (this can be done whole and cut up later, or cut up and reduce the time to cook). In a skillet, add about 1 TRbsp. of olive oil, heat up, and add the red oinion. The heat should be medium, and wait for the onions to soften. Add vinegar, 1/2 c. water, currants and salt to taste. Raise the heat and boil off the liquid by half. Turn off the heat and add the nuts (pine nuts are pricy and you can certainly use another nut, chopped). Spoon the skillet contents over the squash and let stand for a bit. Or a long time! Serve room temperature.

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

This book has been short listed for a 2022 National Book Award in the category of Fiction, and is worthy of the nomination. The novel is unusual in that it is a very intimate portrait of both the quality of the relationships in the family you choose, as well as the challenges related to being an LGBTQIA2S+ under-represented first generation minority. Quite a mouthful, I know, but with the recent turning away from the protection of civil rights for lots of people, including LGBTQIA2S+, a sympathetic portrayal of the ins and outs of relationships, regardless of sexual orientation, is a plus. Only word of warning is that there are some graphic sex scenes, more so than most comparable works of fiction.

Lois Dodd Exhibit, Hall Art Foundation, Vermont

The exhibbit of Lois Dodd's work juxtaposed that of Leon Golub, and seemed an inspired choice to me for the Hall Art Foundation to make. I loved everything about this. She is known for creating intimate and deceptively simple, yet acutely observational paintings, and this exhibit brought together approximately 50 works that span Dodd’s career from the late 1950s to paintings completed last year.

For decades, Dodd has painted views of her immediate, everyday surroundings at the places where she lives and works — the gardens and woods at her summer home in rural Mid-Coast Maine, landscapes around her weekend home in New Jersey near the Delaware Water Gap, and views from the window of her New York City loft on the Lower East Side. Preferring to work quickly, Dodd’s paintings are usually completed in one sitting, are based on direct observations of her surroundings, and when possible, en plein air. They are pleasing to look at and poeaceful in the way that views from your walks outside or from a cosy room can be. FFrom the exhibit: "Dodd’s everyday subjects frequently include architectural details of her home, tumbling down clapboard barns, clotheslines, trees and woods, detailed closeups of plants and flowers, nocturnal moonlight skies and precise views framed by windows. Dodd returns to familiar subjects repeatedly at different times of the year and works with urgency to capture a specific time of day. Carefully composed and distilled to their essential elements, her paintings possess an underlying geometry, and become studies of color, light, shadow, and form."

Truth and Beauty by Ann Pachett

I have never read any of this author’s non-fiction, but I have read nearly every one of her works of fiction. I do not love her most famous book, but I have loved many of them quite a lot, and she is one of my favorite living authors. I was taking a quilting class recently and one of my fellow classmates mentioned that she was on the wait list at the library for her latest book (as am I—it was on Obama’s summer reading list for 2022), and that she had ventured into her other works of non-fiction, and really loved them. I got this book out when I was uncharacteristically doing some driving and wanted something to listen to. It is about the author and Lucy Grealy, a woman she met in college, but really got to know when they lived together when they were in Iowa City at the Writer’s Workshop in the late 1980’s. Patchett did not like Iowa City (foolishly, of course, because it is wonderful), but she forged a lifelong friendship with Lucy, and this book chronicles what that is all about. Lucy is a Ewing’s sarcoma survivor, which she had as a child, and like many such survivors, she had dozens of surgeries and hospitalizations related to her tumor. Unusually, the tumor was in her jaw, and so she was deformed for most of her life, which had devastating effects on her physically as well as emotionally. This book is not so much about that as it is about the deep and unwavering friendship they shared. It is a tender yet brutal book about loving someone that you cannot save, and yet are forever changed by them.

Serious Eats Chili

Half our family had made this before we did, and I can see where the popularity comes from. Such depth of flavor, and umami all over the place! There are quite a few suggestions about what you can add to this to enjoy it, but what I like best is to put it between 2 corn tortillas with a bit of shredded cheese and make a sincronizada. Made a couple of changes, but this is largely true to the base recipe. For Chili: 1 pound (450g) dried dark red kidney beans 3 tablespoons (26g) kosher salt or 6 tablespoons table salt 3 whole ancho, pasilla, or mulato chiles, seeded and torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/2 ounce) 2 whole New Mexico red, California, costeño, or choricero chiles, seeded and torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/8 ounce) 1 whole cascabel, árbol, or pequin chile, seeded and torn in half 1 1/2 tablespoons (9g) whole cumin seeds 1 1/2 teaspoons (3g) whole coriander seeds 2 whole cloves 1 star anise 5 pounds (2.3kg) bone-in beef short ribs, trimmed of silver skin and excess fat Freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil 1 quart (900ml) low-sodium chicken broth (preferably homemade), divided 1 ounce (30g) chopped unsweetened chocolate 2 tablespoons (30ml) tomato paste 1 tablespoon (5g) extra-finely ground coffee beans 2 whole anchovy fillets 2 teaspoons (10ml) soy sauce 1 teaspoon (5ml) fish sauce 1 large yellow onion, diced fine (about 1 1/2 cups) 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon) 3 fresh Thai bird chiles or 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped 1 tablespoon (3g) dried oregano 2 bay leaves 1 (28-ounce; 794g) can crushed tomatoes 1/4 cup (60ml) cider vinegar, plus more to taste 1/4 cup (60ml) vodka or bourbon 2 tablespoons (28g) dark brown sugar For Garnish (all suggestions optional): Scallions, thinly sliced Cheddar, Jack, or Colby cheese, grated Sour cream Jalapeño or Poblano peppers, stemmed, seeded, and diced Onion, diced Avocado, diced Saltine crackers Fritos Place beans, 3 tablespoons kosher salt (36g), and 4 quarts (4L) water in a large plastic container or bowl. Allow to soak at room temperature at least 8 hours, or overnight. Drain and rinse soaked beans. Add dried chiles to a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or stockpot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until slightly darkened with an intense, roasted aroma, 2 to 5 minutes. Do not allow to smoke. Remove chiles, place in a small bowl, and set aside. Alternatively, place dried chiles on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high power in 15-second increments until chiles are pliable and toasted-smelling, about 30 seconds total. Reduce the heat to medium; add the cumin, coriander, cloves, and star anise to the Dutch oven and stir, toasting until the spices become fragrant. Remove spices, cool slightly, then transfer to a spice grinder and grind into a powder. Set aside. Season short ribs on all sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add oil to Dutch oven and heat over high heat until smoking. Add half of short ribs and brown well on all sides (it may be necessary to brown ribs in 3 batches, depending on size of Dutch oven—do not overcrowd pan), 8 to 12 minutes total, reducing heat if fat begins to smoke excessively or meat begins to burn. Transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet or plate. Repeat with remaining short ribs, browning them in the fat remaining in Dutch oven. Once all short ribs are cooked, transfer all rendered fat into a small bowl and reserve separately. Allow short ribs to cool at room temperature. Meanwhile, return Dutch oven to medium-high heat and add 1 cup (240ml) chicken broth, using a flat wooden spoon or stiff spatula to scrape browned bits off of bottom of pan. Reduce heat until chicken broth is at a bare simmer, add toasted chiles to liquid, and cook until chiles have softened and liquid is reduced by half, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer chiles and liquid to a blender. Add ground spices, chocolate, tomato paste, coffee, anchovies, soy sauce, and Marmite. Blend at high speed, scraping down sides as necessary, until a completely smooth purée has formed, about 2 minutes. Set chile purée aside. Trim meat from short rib bones and hand-chop into rough 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch pieces (finer or larger, as you prefer), reserving bones separately. Add any accumulated meat juices to chile purée. Heat 4 tablespoons (60ml) rendered beef fat (if necessary, add vegetable oil to reach 4 tablespoons) in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium heat until shimmering. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic, fresh chiles, and oregano and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chile purée and cook, stirring frequently and scraping bottom of pot, until chile mixture begins to fry and leaves a coating on bottom of pan, 2 to 4 minutes. Add remaining chicken stock, chopped beef, beef bones, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, scraping bottom of pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat to lowest possible setting, add beans, and cook, with cover slightly ajar, until beans are almost tender, about 1 hour. Add crushed tomatoes and cider vinegar and cook, with cover slightly ajar, until beans and beef are fully tender and broth is rich and lightly thickened, 2 to 3 1/2 hours longer, adding water if necessary to keep beans and meat mostly submerged (a little protrusion is okay). Using tongs, remove and discard bay leaves and bones. (At this point, any excess meat still attached to the bones can be removed, chopped, and added back to the chili, if desired.) Add vodka (or bourbon), brown sugar, and hot sauce and stir to combine. Season to taste with kosher salt, ground black pepper, and additional vinegar.

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

This book was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the author is young and talented, and her first book is visceral and beautifully written. At a time when structural imbalances of capital, health, gender and race deepen divides, this is a searing testament to the liberated spirit and ingenuity that is seen in this story telling style . The book is based on a true crime in 2015 involving institutional exploitation, brutality and corruption in the Oakland police department, Nightcrawling gives voice to 17-year-old Kiara Johnson, who, after her father’s death and mother’s detention in a rehab facility, becomes a sex worker to pay for rent hikes. She also needs to look after her disillusioned older brother Marcus, who spends his time on music, and Trevor, a nine-year-old left behind by a neighbour. Drugs, sex and power struggles are a familiar premise from television dramas , but what makes this book scarring and unforgettable as a novel is it’s ability to change our perception of the repressed and confined. It does this by entering the mind, body and soul of Kiara, one of the toughest and kindest young heroines of our time. Well worth reading.

Leon Golub Exhibit, Hall Art Foundation, Vermont

I love the Hall Art DFoundation space, but I also like the way they do a comprehensive presentation of an artist's work. Leon Golub was married to a cousin of my mother-in-law's and if I had to sum it up, he was a painter of men, and as his career advanced, a painter of violent men in the act of fighting or more commonly beating up or subjugating other men. He did not focus on the good in men. This exhibit spanned his career from 1947-2003, and some of his early works, this one os Abe Lincoln included, were much lighter in tone but did not stray from a life long theme of depicting powerrful men. He also had a series of portraits of famous dictators, many known for their ruthlessness. Here is what the exhibit had to say about him: "Leon Golub believed that art must have an observable connection to real world events to have relevance for the viewer. Since the 1940’s, he created paintings that are psychological, emotive and deliberately up front – as topical today as when they were first made. Working in a distinctive figural style influenced by classical and primitive art, photography, print and broadcast media, Golub depicts scenes of private and public conflict to investigate the frequent and complicated ways in which power is abused. His works challenge the stereotypical polarities of victim and aggressor, while balancing an investigation of modern-day political problems with timeless and universal human issues."

The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

This is the most fanciful and upbeat book that falls into the fantasy genre. Many fantasies are dark dystopias, where the action is largely dark and violent battles between good and evil. This is not one of them. When reality is so scary, what with war, climate change, politicians who lie and steal, and disaster around every corner in the real world, this is a nice escape from all that. Linus Baker is a lonely case worker for the government entity in charge of magical youth. It manages orphaned magical beings who are minors. Normally his job is similar to an accountant in an office, but one day the organization's Extremely Upper Management taps him for a month-long assignment and to report back to them. Linus's special assignment is to assess a special orphanage on the island of Marsyas that is run by a phoenix who literally gets hot under pressure. While Linus is clearly a spy, the powers that be are not altogether excited by the way the place is being managed, he is a likable one that everyone warms to in the end, and so, things goes relatively smoothly despite all that.

Hall Art Foundation, Vermont

This is an amazing museum, and one not to be missed. In the fall of 2012, the Hall Art Foundation in Reading, Vermont opened its doors to the public – welcoming visitors to view its program of rotating, temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Exhibitions are held seasonally, from May through November. The setting, just down the road a piece from the much more touristy town of Woodstock, Vermont, is rural and beautiful.

Converted from a former dairy farm, the campus of converted galleries consists of a 19th-century stone farmhouse, three barns, as well as a reception center and cafe. The property’s 5 historic buildings make up approximately 6,000 sq. feet of museum-quality exhibition space. The farmhouse and barns sit next to a waterfall on a tributary of the Black River, and are surrounded by approximately 400 acres of pastures, hayfields and extensive woodland. Outdoor sculptures by world-renowned artists are installed throughout the grounds.

The sculptures weave through the remains of an apple orchard, and the gallery spaces are varied and beautifully done. This is a must see in central Vermont.

Grass by Carl Sandburg

Today is Veteran's Day, but it is also Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I. At the time it was thought to be the war to end all wars, but it didn't turn out that way. A Pulitzer Prize winner, Sandburg was a Swedish-American poet who was prized for his genius with words. In this work, the narrator reflects on past wars and their lasting effects. Pictured here is a WWI battlefield. Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them under and let me work— I am the grass; I cover all. And pile them high at Gettysburg And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun. Shovel them under and let me work. Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor: What place is this? Where are we now? I am the grass. Let me work.

The Gryphon, Burlington, Vermont

The number of times that we are in Burlington is enough that you would think that we would have all sorts of favorites, but the truth is that the places that we have eaten that we would go back to is relatively small, and when we found ourselves there on a Sunday morning recently we were at a bit of a loss as to where to eat. The criteria are that it had to be open, and the menu would ideally veer into some more lunch-like options as I am not much of a breakfast person (even in Vermont, where they are at least very likely to have real maple syrup for things that would be good with). This restaurnat was perfect. it was kind of funky inside, crowded but able to seat us right away, and a nice array of non-breakfast items. Myspouse had an eggs benedict variation, whereas I was able to have a seafood chowder and shrimp and grits. Everything was well prepared, well seasoned, and the seafood was fresh, delicious, and something that is harder to come by in our land locked upper Midestern home state.

Under the Skin by Linda Villarosa

The subtitle is The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and the Health of Our Nation. Much like Medical Bondage, which chronicled the history of racism and medical care for black women, starting with enslaved women, this tells the modern side of that story and it isn't a happier story. The bottom line is that people of color, particularly black people, are treated differently the moment they enter the health care system. As a health care provider myself I do not want to think that it is true, but the evidence is there that time and time again if you are black, even if you have money and insurance and education, you will receive inferior health care. Back when I was in medical school in the early 1980's a professor of mine, Anne Fausto-Sterling, beat this drum loud and clear. Women get worse health care than men and women of color get the worst of all. She wanted this taught in every medical school to every student so that they would examine themselves before they examined patients and do better, but this book tells the story of just how much further we have to go.

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

The Sagrada Familia is apparently the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. When I was last here twenty five years ago it was an all out ruin, a project abandoned.

What is La Sagrada Familia famous for? It is famous for being one of the most iconic examples of Antoni Gaudí's unique style, combining elements of Art Nouveau, Catalan Modernism, and Spanish Late Gothic design. The theme of nature figures prominently in Gaudí's design, both in terms of symbolism and the use of organic shapes and forms. Peaking out of openings as you go down the stairs you see a ceramic mosaic tiled pineapple(see below).

The most astounding part of the construction that has been completed since I was last there is the stained glass. It is everywhere and it is mesmerizing. It is also not religious (unless you see awe-inspiring art as spiritual)--which is ironic, because the initial inspiration and funding for the project was aimed at increasing Catholocism in Barcelona, which was waning at the time.

Would Gaudi be surprised that a construction project begun in 1882 was not yet finished almost 150 years later? No. When Gaudí died in 1926, only the Nativity facade, one tower, the apse, and the crypt were finished. Gaudí, whose tomb is beneath the cathedral, knew he would not live to see the completion of his vision, believing it would take 200 years. La Sagrada Familia was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

This Is Your Mind On Plants by Michael Pollan

I have found the author's thoughts and books about our relationship with food and farming to be thought provoking and maybe the single best way to think about how to improve our health as it pertains to eating than any other thing that I have read. He makes you think all the while not stirring up too much dust. This book, which concerns our species’ symbiotic entanglements with three other potent plant-derived substances – opium, caffeine and mescaline – is a further development of a lifelong inquiry, which began, he writes, when he took up gardening as a teenager and attempted to grow cannabis. So a bit more dust is stirred than in other works, but he does not in any way glorify drug use, nor does he encourage their use. He is a gardener, and he presents this project as a natural evolution of his “abiding interest in how we interact with other plant and animal species and how they get ahead in nature by gratifying our desires”. The desire to change consciousness was a fundamental element of that relationship, he suggested. His essays on perhaps the three most dramatically efficacious medicinal compounds proceed in a similar way, weaving personal experimentation with each of the compounds into informed histories of the ways in which they have taken such a hold of different human cultures. At the root of each case study is a pair of questions: the first asks why, as a species, we have gone to extraordinary lengths to propagate and disseminate these consciousness-changing molecules, and the second is why they are subject to paranoia and regulation in differing degrees.

Xerta, Barcelona, Spain

This is a very good, Michelin-starred restaurtant but amazingly, it was my least favorite meal that I had on a recent trip to Barcelona.

It offers up traditional cuisine of Terres de l’Ebre with innovative touches. Chef Fran Lopez cooks with quality products & local produce. The team creates a cuisine based on the product and by the market, with innovative touches without losing the essence of the traditional cuisine that allowed him treasuring several international awards. The ingredients are top notch, and if you like theater with your meal (a hallmark of starred restaurants), Xerta delivers.

The one resounding success is the seafood. The Mediterranean Sea may be waning in the volume of food that comes out of it, but the quality remains exceptional. This was the first meal where 1/2 the dining party did just plant and seafood, no land-based animals at all in an effort to really enjoy this bounty.

Shutter by Ramona Emerson

This book is written by a Diné writer and cinematographer, telling a story about Diné culture, with a Navajo woman at the center of it. It was long listed for the National Book Award. Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer working for the Albuquerque police force. In her work she routinely comes in contact with death, which is something that she is culturally supposed to avoid. Her excellent photography skills have cracked many cases—she is almost supernaturally good at capturing details. In fact, there is a reason she is so good. Rita has been hiding a secret: she sees the ghosts of crime victims who point her toward the clues as to who killed them that other investigators overlook. As a lone portal back to the living for traumatized spirits, Rita is terrorized by nagging ghosts who won't let her sleep and who sabotage her personal life. Her taboo and psychologically harrowing ability was what drove her away from the Navajo reservation, where she was raised by her grandmother. She was marginalized as a child because of her odd behaviors, and when she reveals why she knows what she knows, it gets her in trouble at work as well. This is both good and different, and definitely well worth reading.

Dr. Strange In The Multiverse of Madness

I find Marvel movies kind of baffling. Here is why--they are all linked these days and if you miss one, the chances that you will be hopelessly lost are high. Even higher if you are mostly just trying to keep up with them for the sake of being socially engaged and knowing what the heck your kids are talking about. This installment epitomizes this. The modern Marvel sequel is as multi-armed as Doctor Strange casting a spell. Think about how many properties are being sequel-ed in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” It’s a sequel to “Doctor Strange,” although just barely in that you probably need to have seen that film less than the Strange adventures that followed. It’s a sequel to “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in that it references action in both films and extrapolates somewhat on the universe-saving decision that the title character made in the former. It’s very much a sequel to “WandaVision,” the show that expanded the Marvel Cinematic Universe into television--so do not jump right into this without watching that first! And here is the thing--I had seen all these and still felt slightly lost the whole move. The non-stop actiuon is dizzying and of course there are no all out wins here, because the battle of good and evil is both nuanced and never-ending.

The Birdcatcher by Gayl Jones

I had never read anything by this author, and now in the span of a couple of months I have read two books. This was short listed for the 2022 National Book Award, and I have recently been trying to read these because they largely do not disappoint. While I liked this, I did not love it. I just finished the author's previous book, Palmares, just a few weeks ago, and which is spectacular, and maybe this suffers in comparison. That is not a fair comparison to make, but I do not think that is the whole of it. This is much shorter, and while it picks up themes and motifs of healing, magic and dreams that were a big part of her last book, it wasn't quite as lyrical. On the upside, the book delves into the complexities of relationships and friendships, all under the umbrella of those who work as artists. Amanda is a writer and Catherine a sculptor and they have a long and somewhat uneasy relationship. Much of the novel is told in seemingly random spurts of dialogue, where the reader must pick up stray clues and make subtle connections, and in the end, the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about the creative process and the toll it takes. The book is thought provoking, well written, a little bit sexually explicit, and altogether worth reading.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

I have been to la Jean La Fitte National Park that is outside of New Orleans, where we took a very memorable swamp walk with Ranger Turnipseed many years ago, and I have walked by the branch that was in or near the open air market in the French quarter, but I had never been to the Jazz Historical Park. Shortly after the French founded New Orleans in 1718, engineers drew up a formal city plan for Nouvelle Orleans---the area that we now call the French Quarter. The city quickly expanded beyond those original boundaries to become an important American port. People arrived from all over the world, joining the early inhabitants of the area to create a distinct culture rich in food, music, and tradition.

This park is dedicated to the living part of the music and culture. When we were there it was in September and so they were celebrating Hispanic History Month, and so the daily musical and dance performances celebrated traditional music and jazz from Latin America. We saw a Haitian Jazz trio with an exceptional key boardist and a traditional dance and guitar performance from Mexico. All free, and the daily schedule is on the park's website as well as the what's going on in New Orleans calandar. Music and history on a budget!

Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu

I read this book because it was on Obama's list of recommended reading, and I find that his choices are almost always both enjoyable and memorable, and about 1/2 of them are books I wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for him, so I am grateful that he is still doing them. The author had a fairly traumatic upbringing, with her mother leaving she and her sister when they were small, really never (to this point) having a meaningful parental role in their lives, and then her father died when she was thirteen. An orphan and not an orphan on many levels. Then she is also a woman without homeland. Her mother is American, but from an Armenian family that has that identity, her father is from Ghana, and her parents were international workers, so she grew up in Italy, England, Uganda, and Tanzania. She speaks English, Italian, French, and Swahili, but not the first language of either of her parents. In addition to being an exploration of who she is it is also at core an exploration of who her father was. She begins to see her father as mortal, both wonderful and flawed. Moving away from her worship of a fixed, singular ideal, she discovers love in a plurality of places. She pays homage to he surrogate mothers, her aunts and half-siblings, and her ancestors. She also finds slices of herself in every place she has lived, and that in the end, she is going to be okay.