It's Cold in Houston

Katy and I are here in Houston for the USA Rugby National Evaluators Conference ... and also for Katy's birthday celebration with our friends Jan and Sandra. Later on we'll talk about the visit and the restaurant we went to for dinner -- but for now, let's just note that Houston is supposed to be much much warmer. It's low 50s today .... with night in the 40s. Ugh

NSEA -- Sheraton Four Points -- 0 Stars

We booked the Sherato Four Points in Chelsea because it was convenient to where my brother was hosting his 50th birthday party. We weren't expecting spectacular -- it was modestly priced and we would have been happy with a modest room. Which is exactly what we got. No bath mat. Plastic cups. But not "horrible" just "eh."

There the story would end if it weren't for the major failure -- no heat in the room. The hotel was booked solid. It was late. Etc. etc. etc. They did give us a space heater -- but it was one of the coldest nights of the year in New York. The thermostat said it was 55 degrees in the room. On the whole, this looked like a moderate, OK place -- but the lack of heat made this one of the worst experiences we've had lately.

Montmarte -- An Old Favorite -- 3 stars

One of our two favorite restaurants on the Hill is Montmarte. Its a comfortable French bistro where we can always find good food at a good price. The owners know who we are and welcome us warmly whenever we come. Its sort of a "Cheers" for French bistro food.

Last night was no exception. Katy started with a wonderful seasonal specialty -- mushrooms (4 different kinds) in a red wine sauce. She followed that with a well-prepared Cod that tasted just right. Paul had a nice frissee salad with warm goat cheese and apricots as garnish and then tried something new that he had never had before -- Frogs Legs! Tasted just like chicken. But the star of Paul's meal was the roots and vegatables that came with it -- beets, bok choy, carrots, etc. Wonderful taste in a garlic and parsley butter sauce.

Add a nice 1/2 bottle of a Bordeaux and the meal is complete. What more can you ask for than a nice welcome, a good meal and a reasonable price.

Time Stands Still -- 3 1/2 Stars

We went to the Studio Theater the other night and saw a play by Donald Margulies, "Time Stands Still." If you have a chance you really need to go and see this play. It was one of the most memorable plays we've seen in quite a while. We would recommend it generally as being exceedingly well acted and produced.

The two lead protagonists are a photo jounrnalist and her boyfriend, a print journalist, who spend their lives covering conflict in Iraq/Sudan etc. The play is set back here in the US where they have just returned after she is injured in a road-side bomb attack. Holly Twyford, who plays the female lead, is just wonderful as a photographer who just can't say "no" to the challenge of covering conflicts.

We don’t pretend to know a lot about journalism but this play had the feel of verisimilitude. They players struggled with the effects of the horror on them; with the challenge of observing bad events and “not doing anything” and with the conflict between their yearning to be doing “something” and the desire for a safer quieter life. We have to imagine that this play would resonate with journalists everywhere and with those who consume the news.

At its core this is an excellent play that is just plain well done!