Ballet Boyz

Went to see Ballet Boyz at the Columbia Dance. Generally a pretty good program. Finally got to see a ballet by William Forsyth, and learned that Phillip Glass wrote some interesting string quartet music.

Cubs Tix on Sale

Man, oh, man, tried to get Cubs tickets, and how things have changed from a year ago. I think last year I didn't get to it until April, and I still got some decent games. This year, I tried the Internet on Friday, but ultimately couldn't get through until Saturday. I've got three games, and mostly up in the boonies. Wow! Maddux better deliver.

Crossing 1 Billion

The University of Chicago is in the middle of a $2 billion campaign, and today we celebrated crossing the halfway mark.

Sex and the City, the Final Episode

Had a great party for the final episode of Sex and the City. My brother K. and his son S., who is at Northwestern Medical School, joined us for the festivities. (Thank goodness, because S., the proprietor of Bar 16 in the NW Med School dorms took over bar duty making the cosmos: efficiency and style ruled.) The tone of the evening was also was set by opening a three liter bottle of Berringer Merlot, a gift from my sister P., given to us some time ago for Christmas. We served lasagna. Ms. S threated to make rumaki, but it didn't happen. How do they say: a good time was had by all. And we learned that Mr. Big has a name.

Steve Levitt lecture

Went to a lecture by Steve Levitt last night, the young rock star of the Econ Department. The title of the talk was: From Sumo Wrestlers to School Corruption: An Economist Looks at the Real World

Here's the official description:

What do sumo wrestlers and elementary school teachers have in common? What kind of economist studies game shows, gangs, and lojack? Is this what they're teaching in Econ 201 these days? At the University of Chicago, economists believe the tools of economics can unlock the answer to just about any question. Micro-economist Steven Levitt, who was recently hailed by the New York Times as "the most brilliant young economist in America," exemplifies this tradition. Having tackled topics as arcane as sumo wrestling, penalty kicks in soccer, lojack, the link between abortion and crime, drunk driving, and drug-selling gangs, Professor Levitt won the 2003 John Bates Clark Medal, given biennially to the country's best economist under 40. In this special program for Chicago alumni, Professor Levitt describes examples of his work on corruption in unusual places and shows how cutting-edge economics can be used to catch the cleverest cheaters.

He was great. Interesting, clear, a gentle sense of humor.

Sex and the City Dinners

OK, I'm not sure I want to do this again soon, but hosting dinner for the eight consecutive final episodes of Sex and the City has turned us into a dinner party machine.  We've got the preparation down.  We've served lamb kabobs, borscht (in honor of Baryshnikov), Texas Hospitality Chicken, turkey chili, and the turkey cutlet version of  Il Fine Del Mondo, among others, it's all fading together. (Damn those Cosmos.)   I don't know how that Julie did it cooking every night--I'm going to be happy to reclaim some of my weekend--though it has reminded us how easy it is to have a few people over.

Little Night Music at Shakespeare

For Valentine's Day, we went to see a great production of A Little Night Music at the Shakespeare Theater.  Really well done.

Another Week at the U of Chicago

This week I’ve been to lectures/programs/donor receptions with Bruce Cummings on Inventing the Axis of Evil: The Truth about North Korea, Iran and Syria, John Mearsheimer in an informal talk on why our strategy in Iraq was so ill conceived, Danielle Allen  “on translating ancient greek lyric poetry” (she swears she’s being literal in her translations, but it comes out in this beautiful street vernacular) {and oh, by the way, her next book is on Brown v. Board of Ed.}, and, oh yes, the Bontecou exhibition at the MCA.

New York Trip

Off to NYC for the first time in a couple of days.  The main purpose was a dinner organized by the head of the Visiting Committee for the Social Sciences, but we also did some other donor calls.  Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to NYC without a visit to Menchanko-tei.  Out on Wednesday and back by Friday.

First Week at U of Chicago

So, if you are going to jump in, jump in.   Here's one day during my first week at the University of Chicago.  Went to hear John Mearsheimer, professor in Political Science and expert on foreign policy and international security, in a lunch time session, primarily for undergraduates on What I Believe and Why.  He talked mostly about his upbringing, going to West Point, his personal experience as a student.  That evening, I caught the end of Susan Manning from Northwestern on Making a (Queer) American Dance: Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, and Alvin Ailey, before heading over the Smart Museum for the opening of Illuminations: Sculpting with Light.  OK, OK, so two of these event are really about the Humanities...I'm still in the environment

A New Life...or at Least a New Job

I accepted a position at the University of Chicago today. I'll be the Director of Development for the Social Sciences Division. Hangin' with the Nobel Prize crowd. A big change for me--separating my interest in the arts from my vocation. But this is good: I can have friends in the arts who aren't always thinking I'm after their wallet.

Lots to be excited about: learning new subject matter, great people, great reputation of the University. And, we get to stay in Chicago, and in our fabulous home. Woo hoo!

Epiphany

The wise men arrive today, you know. (And I start my New Year's resolutions.) And, since "Expose the Core, strengthen the Core" is one of my resolutions (hey, I like them ambiguous...I know what I mean), I need to point out this web site, TRANSFORMATION 2003. I've been going to the gym pretty steadily for over a year now, but I can't hold a candle to this guy. What an inspiration--and his attitude, "if you follow a set of steps exactly, the results are predictable." Love a scientific mind.

Sayonara to Sex and the City

Spurred on by our friends B. and D. (who don't have cable) we're hosting a party at our place for all the remaining episodes of Sex and the City. When we were planning the first night's menu, the weather was gorgeous, warm. Mediterranean seemed good and easy. Kabobs on the grill, eggplant/feta dip, cous cous. We got everything done ahead, and then the weather turned nasty on Sunday. Still, a good time was had by all, with Mr. B staffing the distribution of cosmos. My, we were a talkative bunch.

Champagne and Sushi

A very quiet New Year's Eve. Went to Matsuya for appetizers and got sushi to go. A little sparkling, sushi, and Top Hat and lights out well before midnight. Got to the gym for New Year's Day.

A Cab Ride

Went to see Lord of the Rings, III, and on the way back splurged on a cab ride. The details have now faded, but the story the cabbie told was like an episode out of Joan of Arcadia. He got stopped by a cop for speeding late at night, and turns out, he's going to law school, and took it court, and won. Got the cop to admit that there was no one else around ("prudent for the circumstances") and he was rushing to pick up a usual fare to get her to a hospital. The meditation: don't be a jerk, stay positive. Happy Holidays. (And, are you sure life doesn't imitate art, Joan?)