Some unsolicited comments - March 5, 2008

Theater

We have been subscribers, on and off, to Roundabout Theater since the beginning. Frankly, our experience has been mixed, and we have seriously considered dropping out. The appeal is being able to see 5 or 6 shows a year; in good seats; at reasonable prices - with the occasional blockbuster. This year has been the best by far, with really interesting productions, and even more interesting technical and staging effects. Some of our favorites this season have included: "The Ritz", "39 Steps" and "Sunday In The Park With George".

We recently saw "Crimes of the Heart", a vintage tragi-comedy about three southern sisters trying to get on with life. It's hard to imagine but, we laughed and cried equally. It was good, but not as outstanding as the exceptional staging of the others - but the casting, and acting of the three sisters hooked us. This year made a couple of slow years worth it.

Restaurants

We ventured out to eat this week at Dovetail, a new restaurant located in a townhouse on W77th St. It's a well regarded New American, from chef-owner John Fraser (ex Compass), featuring seasonal, continental fare. Overall, we thought the restaurant was OK, maybe even good, but not worth the trip to the UWS! The food was good; the wine list "By The Glass" particularly undistinguished; and the room cold and a bit too austere. There was nothing to distinguish it.

If you do go, the menu is creative with some interesting items.

Chris started with the "Brussels sprout leaves, pears, & serrano ham, served on a puree of cauliflowero, sprinkled with manchego cheese" .

I chose the "Pork belly porcini mushrooms, kale, and hen egg". Both were delicious and we would recommend them.

For the main course, I followed with the "Pistachio crusted duck endive, celery root, and truffles". It was quite good.

Chris had the "Maine sea scallops topped with pink grapefruit, parsley, almonds and a light hollandaise sauce". She thought it was excellent. But then she's easy!

We also had a very nice cheese plate. My favorite course of the night. Unfortunately they served coffee BEFORE the cheese. As the espresso was not to our liking, we ended on a good note with the cheese.

Dovetail Restaurant

103 W. 77th Street

212-362.3800

Books

Minette Walters - The Sculptress

This was a new author for me. She writes psychological mysteries. There is no series character. I've read a bunch of them now. This one, from 1993 is probably her best. It was an Edgar Award winner. A really well done exploration of how people are damaged; and why they confess. Also, how certain personality types can manipulate others. She's a British author and I first found one of her books in Canada. She's not easy to find here, although Amazon has them. I was very excited when I found her as a new (to me) author last year and have now read 9 or 10 of her books. They don't disappoint.

Book description

Convicted of the brutal ax murders of her mother and sister, Olive Martin spends her days in prison carving tiny human figures out of wax. Rosalind Leigh, a best-selling author's publisher jolts her out of writer's block by telling her to research a book about Olive and the murders - or else. Though repelled by the idea at first, Rosalind soon becomes intrigued by her subject and begins to believe she may be innocent. She soon uncovers plenty of reasons to doubt the official police version of the killings.

Anne Harrington - The Cure Within

As a "graduate" of Pfizer, dependent on their success for my lifestyle, I was enormously skeptical of the premise for this book - that there is something to the power of suggestion that can actually affect outcomes of serious illnesses. After reading the book (or most of it, 350 pages is a lot of positive thinking) I am still skeptical, but am impressed that she makes a forceful argument that we need to look at this in a more open, or unbiased way. In the interim, I'll stick to the most powerful drugs I can get!

Book description

People suffering from serious illnesses improve their survival chances by adopting a positive attitude and refusing to believe in the worst. Stress is the great killer of modern life. Ancient Eastern mind-body techniques can bring us balance and healing. We've all heard claims like these, and many find them plausible. When it comes to disease and healing, some believe we must look beyond doctors and drugs and look within ourselves. Faith, relationships, and attitude matter.

But why do people believe such things? From psychoanalysis to the placebo effect to meditation, this vibrant history describes our commitments to mind-body healing as rooted in a patchwork of stories that have allowed people to make new sense of their suffering, express discontent with existing care, and rationalize new treatments and lifestyles. These stories are sometimes supported by science, sometimes quarrel with science, but are all ultimately about much more than just science.

Harrington is the Chair of Harvard's History of Science Department,