Vermont Land

July 15, 2013
Since leaving Middlebury, I have had a insatiable need to return to Vermont as often as possible. It is a beautiful and inspiring place to be and absolutely necessary as a counterbalance to my life in the city. I have always dreamed of owning some raw and natural Land somewhere and recently the dream became reality with the purchase of 11.5 acres in Chester for $7,500. It is cheap and steep. A brook runs through the bottom of the property and the hillside shoots up a few hundred feet to a gentler slope that could have nice views with some…

Summer Swing

July 8, 2013
And then it was Summer! Hot and sunny with a two-day-a-week work schedule, the shift is quick and extreme and I am thoroughly enjoying it. One of my favorite aspects of the city at this time is the wealth of free outdoor cultural events. Concerts in Prospect Park have been supremely fun, with Amadou and Mariam, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Os Mutantes and Javelin providing the early season entertainment in my backyard. The venue is perfect and free events promote attendance, so bringing a group of friends to see a show by a band few have heard is easy; everyone has…

Lobster Roll Rumble

June 11, 2013
When I think about the food I enjoyed 20 years ago, I feel sorry for myself; I didn't know what I was missing out on because it didn't exist yet. Modern Food Culture was in its infancy, before Top Chef and Michael Pollans, where good food was a classic dish done well. Variety was Chinese or Indian. As awareness grew, old traditions evolved and new food was born in a burst of communal creativity. Today, I enjoy a vastly greater selection of high quality food everywhere from the market to restaurant. I still love burgers and wings but nothing is…

Daft Punk

May 29, 2013
I had a siesta today and spent it in the recliner on the balcony in the blazing sun listening to Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. I listened to it on my drive up and back from Cape Cod this weekend and it gets better every time; so funkin' funky and sonically diverse, it's from the past and the future simultaneously. As usual, their beats are powerful and the tones are electric, but they have added new flavors with many interesting collaborations for wild variety. It just sounds great all the way through and I can't stop listening to it. The…

Here Lies Love

April 24, 2013
I am pretty sure my wife is the greatest stage manager in the history of stage management. Every show she works on is amazing and everyone she works with loves working with her. I am always impressed by her dedication to the process and I always enjoy the product. Her latest, Here Lies Love, is probably her best work yet! An Imelda Marcos-inspired dance party with music by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and directed by Alex Timbers stretches the boundaries of theater; the audience stands while platforms shift and spin around, with actors dancing tight choreography and singing beautiful…

Boston 4.15.13

April 16, 2013
I was born in Boston, raised in Newton, and although I have displaced myself geographically, my heart will always beat Bostonian and right now I feel more love than I have ever felt for that city. Patriots Day is a holiday and tradition celebrated exclusively in the region and consists of a morning game at Fenway and a night game at The Garden while the Marathon pours people into the heart of the city. It is a day of pride for Boston's unique and important history in our nation's independence and a day to enjoy family, friends and springtime in…

Welcome Spring!

April 9, 2013
After a two-week vacation in which I logged 7 ski days (@Wildcat, Black, Burke, Stowe and Magic!) I am ready to spring into some warm weather, and today was the first T-shirt day of the year. The windows are wide open and I hope I don't have to close them until October (early Spring naïveté). While I worship the winter and its white alpine bounty, I might have a harder time appreciating it without the warmth of summer. Being outside can be beautiful or miserable, depending on surroundings and weather, so anytime the factors align pleasantly, I am sure to…

Jay Peak

March 13, 2013
Jay Peak has Mystique. As far North as you can drive in Vermont, it is the one major New England Ski mountain I have never sampled in all my years of obsession. You need to really want Jay all the way to drive by countless other great resorts and make the epic trek, but it is worth it. Jay Peak is unique in its terrain and has skiable trees everywhere, from steep one liners to gently sloping sapling slalom tracks. Getting lost in the glades of Timbuktu and running into the occasional ski area boundary sign feels about as remote…

Nemo

February 12, 2013
The snow predictions began the previous weekend and steadily rose throughout the week. Emails were exchanged remarking on the prospect of glorious Northeastern powder and arrangements were made. Massachusetts looked ripe for a slamming so we honed in on Berkshire East in Charlemont, but just before we left, Massachusetts ordered a statewide driving ban, sending us up the Taconic to Vermont. It was a slow and slippery drive, but I had full confidence in Captain Jack to deliver us safely. Fortunately, southern VT was also graced by Nemo and Saturday morning we were whoopin' down Magic Mountain. It was a…

Teaching Music

February 1, 2013
I have a fun career. Going to work is great when you play music with kids. Getting out of bed is hard, and dealing with occasional bad behavior can be difficult, but in general, I am always excited to be working in such a joyful environment. I am inspired by young people everyday and admire their playfulness and emotional investment in activities. They learn fast, locking into rhythm and tone as they walk and talk, and without inhibitions to mute the pure enjoyment. I often record classes and lessons to playback with the students and I pulled a few from…