To read the full story, and to see more photos, click here (free registration required).

photo by Dayna Smith for the Washington Post.

Jay’s first book of poetry, Green Squall, was published in 2005 and was the winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets prize, the oldest annual literary award in the United States. His work has been featured in various magazines and journals, including, The American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, The New Yorker, and Ploughshares. In addition to his bachelors degree from NYU, he also has degrees from the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He is Assistant Professor of English at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Ethan Brown has a new book out, Shake the Devil Off: A True Story of the Murder That Rocked New Orleans. It tells the tale of Zack Bowen and Addie Hall, a French Quarter couple who died in a gruesome murder-suicide not long after Hurricane Katrina. “It’s not every book where you have a voodoo priestess and George Bush as characters,” Mr. Brown told the Times-Picayune. Bestselling author George Pelecanos praised Shake the Devil Off and said

Ethan Brown examines a notorious murder case, rescues it from the talons of tabloid journalists, and comes up with something much more than a true crime book. Shake the Devil Off is a gripping suspense story, an indictment of the military’s treatment of our soldiers in and out of war, and a celebration of the resilience and worth of a great American city.

Ethan is also the author of Queens Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent, and the Rise of the Hip Hop Hustler and Snitch: Informants, Cooperators, and the Corruption of Justice.

To buy Shake the Devil Off, click here.

Chris Duggan and his band Winter North & Night will record album #3 before a live audience at The Bitter End on two nights Wednesday, September 16, 2009 and Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

Chris Duggan founded Winter North & Night in 2007. He is 19 and a full-time student at New York University's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music which only accepts 30 new students a year. He performs regularly in clubs and venues in New York City and Los Angeles. Previous Winter North & Night albums include "Answers" released in Los Angeles in 2008 during Golden Globe week and "Beacon" released in Los Angeles earlier this year during Academy Awards week. Chris Duggan is founder of True North Records and Thousand Eyes Publishing. He is a songwriter and member of ASCAP.

Doors open at The Bitter End on September 16 and September 30 at 6:30 pm. Live recording starts promptly at 7:00 pm.

Seating is limited. Advanced ticket purchase is available and recommended. To purchase tickets in advance write to (and make checks payable to) WNAN LLC, P. O. Box 193, New Albany, OH 43054 (please include phone number and/or email address) or call 614-939-0183 for further information. Tickets are $7.00 and can be purchased at the box office at 6:30 pm on the day of each performance.

John Radanovich's (GSAS, 1992) new book, Wildman of Rhythm: the Life and Music of Benny Moré (University of Florida Press) has just been published and is available for purchase here. It is a biography of the greatest Cuban singer ever recorded, and the leader of the best orchestra from the 1950s. John spent 12 years researching Benny's life and music, in the States and with two research trips to Cuba.

Journalist John Radanovich has spent years tracking down the musicians who knew More and More family members, seeking out rare recordings and little-known photographs. Radanovich provides the definitive biography of the man and his music, whose legacy was forgotten in the larger scheme of political difficulties between the United States and Cuba. Even the exact spelling of More's first name was unknown until now. The author also examines the milieu of Cuban music in the 1950s, when Havana was the playground of Hollywood stars and the Mafia ran the nightclubs and casinos.

John has published articles and reviews in Living Blues and New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has covered the New York music scene for the Bergen Record newspaper, and has written about Latin music, jazz, and world music for Offbeat and Downbeat.

Advance praise for the book:

“This new book about ‘El Bárbaro del Ritmo’ celebrates the life and music of
one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.”—Grammy award winning
musician Paquito D’Rivera

“Anybody with hot blood in their veins who has ever found Cuban music
irresistible, and who believes that jungle-crazy mambo is the real thing,
will feel indebted to John Radanovich’s fascinating chronicle of Benny
Moré’s life. Wildman of Rhythm is more than a biography—it’s a huge window
into one of the richest, most creative cultures on earth.”—Bob Shacochis,
National Book Award finalist for Swimming in the Volcano

"An important and highly entertaining book that tells the story of the great
and troubled Cuban singer Benny More. Helps roll back the curtain that often
comes between American audiences and their appreciation of the great musical
cultures to the south."--Sam Charters, author of A Language of Song:
Journeys into the Musical World of the African Diaspora

"An informative and compelling chronicle on the life of Cuba's most dazzling
singer, Benny More, tidily strung together as a series of small bright
story-jewels."--Ann Louise Bardach, author of Cuba Confidential

Jonathan Tropper's newest book, This Is Where I Leave You was released last week and many of his novels will soon be making it to the silver screen.

Tropper is writing a remake of the play Harvey, for Fox 2000 and is also writing the adaptation of This Is Where I Leave You, as a feature film for Warner Brothers.

From Publishers Weekly
Tropper returns with a snappy and heartfelt family drama/belated coming-of-age story. Judd Foxman's wife, Jen, has left him for his boss, a Howard Stern–like radio personality, but it is the death of his father and the week of sitting shivah with his enjoyably dysfunctional family that motivates him. Jen's announcement of her pregnancy—doubly tragic because of a previous miscarriage—is followed by the dramas of Judd's siblings: his sister, Wendy, is stuck in an emotionless marriage; brother Paul—always Judd's defender—and his wife struggle with infertility; and the charming youngest, Phillip, attempts a grown-up relationship that only highlights his rakishness. Presided over by their mother, a celebrated parenting expert despite her children's difficulties, the mourning period brings each of the family members to unexpected epiphanies about their own lives and each other. The family's interactions are sharp, raw and often laugh-out-loud funny, and Judd's narration is unflinching, occasionally lewd and very keen. Tropper strikes an excellent balance between the family history and its present-day fallout, proving his ability to create touchingly human characters and a deliciously page-turning story.

To purchase This Is Where I Leave You, click here
.

Our congratulations to Louisa Huynh, CAS '03

Louisa Huynh has been named director of communications and business development at Dot VN, Inc. Ms. Huynh began her career as a journalist in the VTVNews department of Vietnam Television's International Channel, VTV4. While at VTV4, she hosted the first talk show ever to be aired on Vietnamese television conducted entirely in English. She also served as a consultant for the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). Ms. Huynh has also accumulated an expansive portfolio of emcee work. Some events in which she has hosted include a discussion with Bill Gates; the 2006 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit; a 2006 discussion with President Bill Clinton; and the 100 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leadership Forum. Dot VN, Inc. is an Internet and telecommunications company and the exclusive online global domain name registrar and provider of parking page marketing/advertising for the country of Vietnam.

We hope to have the chance to speak with Louisa soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

As previously announced The Public Theater's contemporary production of Shakespeare's Othello -- directed by Peter Sellers and featuring John Ortiz and Philip Seymour Hoffman -- will play the venue September 12-October 4. Another highlight will be the world premiere of Mabou Mines' Finn (March 4-7), a digital and live-action adventure based on the ancient Celtic legend of Finn McCool (Fionn macCumhaill).

The Skirball Center's "World Stage" series will feature the ninth annual Peking Opera Festival (October 31), Masters of Persian Music (February 18), New York Tango All-Stars (March 20), De Volta as Raizes: Back to our Roots (April 15), and The Conga Kings (May 15). In addition, the Center will present a public policy debate series, and a Tisch Dance Alumni Celebration.

So why not take a trip back to NYU and see a show at this wonderful on-campus venue. In New York City this summer? Stay tuned for posts giving you some ideas of great things to do in NYC from live theater to movies to restaurants. The city is your blank canvas but we'd like to add a little Violet to your masterpiece in the making.

By now, many of you have at least picked up on the Grizzly Bear buzz. This band consists of Daniel Rossen (CAS '04), Ed Droste (GAL '03), Chris Taylor (ED '04) and Christopher Bear (ED '04). Grizzly Bear recently announced a new series of North American tour dates in support of its highly-acclaimed new album, Veckatimest.

Prior to the start of the tour, the group will perform on the Late Show with David Letterman, Thursday (July 16).

The itinerary for Grizzly Bear’s tour of North America follows:

July 19 - Chicago, IL (Pitchfork Music Festival)
August 30 - Brooklyn, NY (JELLY Pool Party)
September 26 - Ann Arbor, MI (Michigan Theatre)
September 27 - Chicago, IL (Metro)
September 28 - Chicago, IL (Metro)
September 30 - Minneapolis, MN (First Avenue)
October 1 - Columbus, MO (Blue Note)
October 3 - Austin, TX (Austin City Limits Festival)
October 5 - Atlanta, GA (Variety Playhouse)
October 6 - Norfolk, VA (The NorVA)
October 7 - Philadelphia, PA (Electric Factory)
October 8 - Boston, MA (Orpheum Theatre)
October 14 - Vancouver, BC (Vogue Theatre)
October 15 - Portland, OR (Crystal Ballroom)
October 16 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)
October 18 - San Francisco, CA (Treasure Island Music Festival)
October 20 - Los Angeles, CA (Hollywood Palladium)
October 21 - Solana Beach, CA (Belly Up Tavern)

We hope to get an interview with them in the near future!

With the upcoming release of the film Julie and Julia and because of our many alumni currently working in the culinary industry, we wanted to let you know about a wonderful new book that will teach even the novice cook pearls of kitchen wisdom.

Notes on Cooking : A Short Guide to an Essential Craft is the new book written by Lauren Braun Costello and Russell Reich, with an afterword written by NYU alumna, Dorothy Hamilton, founder and CEO of The French Culinary Institute and chairwoman emerita for life of the American Institute of Wine and Food.

Whether you are a novice cook, an expert chef or just someone interested in food you will no doubt have to add this wonderful guide to your collection. Devoid of any recipes, Notes on Cooking feeds us helpful tips in the form of notes. Here are some examples of what you will find in this delightful book:

1) Mise en place. Always.
Literally "put in place," mise en place might just as well mean "take time to save time."

Wash, peel, cut, measure, and select before you begin the cooking process. Set out each measured ingredient, ready to play its part. Don't get caught in the rush to start cooking. If you surge ahead, you'll just have to stop and take time to prepare what should have been mise en place in the first place---and you'll end up burning the sauce.

2) Command the heat.

"The chef's job," writes Daniel Boulud, "[is] to employ heat to transform ingredients...Whether it is extracting and re-absorbing juice in roasting, or braising and reducing, or sauteing then caramelizing-you are working the moisture in the food you are preparing; and then concentrating it, reintegrating it back into the ingredient. Heat, concentrate, reintegrate. No matter how you apply the heat, this is the transformational aspect of cuisine. How good your food is depends on how well you control this force of nature.

3) Cook bacon in a cold pan.

If you put cold bacon in a hot pan, its exterior might burn and blacken quickly, sealing in the fat you wish to release. Start with a cold pan to allow the bacon to come to temperature with the pan so that it renders its fat before browning.
Cooking bacon in a skillet, by the way, yields curly bacon; cooking it in an oven leaves the strips flat.

These are only three of the 217 notes found in this book and each one will provide you will useful knowledge whether it be about Produce, Meat, Wine & Spirits or Presentation. Cheers to kitchen creations! Bon Appétit!

About the Authors:

Lauren Braun Costello
Lauren developed her craft in the kitchens and classrooms of some of the world’s most renowned chefs and as the owner and Executive Chef of Gotham Caterers in New York City. From her work as a recipe tester for the 75th anniversary edition of Joy of Cooking, to culinary producer for Pure & Simple with Michel Nischan, she now applies her culinary skills as a private chef, instructor, and as a food stylist for national television broadcasts including The Early Show on CBS, ABC’s The View, and CNN’s dLife. She received a Grand Diploma in Culinary Arts with distinction from The French Culinary Institute and was awarded a Les Dames d’Escoffier Scholarship. Most recently she was seen on The View with Meryl Street and Amy Adams where she shared some of Julia Child's favorite recipes.

Russell Reich
Russel is a writer and creative director. He is the co-author with Frank Hauser of Notes on Directing.

If you've dined at The Plaza or The Pierre Hotel in New York City recently, you may have seen the magnificent work of Magnolias Linens. Magnolias was founded by three driven and uniquely creative women, Anjum Ahmed and her daughters, Asema Ahmed and Talaiya Mughal.

Magnolias Linens, LLC, has decorated hundreds of elite events with their unique linen
designs at a fraction of the normal cost, and has expanded into event accessories, furniture rentals, tent design, and more. Now managed by Asema Ahmed, Magnolias works closely with both event designers and individual clients to fashion original creations, and remains the only upscale event source in New York that rents custom-made party linens and accessories.

We had a chance to visit the Upper East Side Magnolias Linens location and speak with Asema.

For more information please visit the Magnolias Linens website.

Asema Ahmed, Magnolia's Linens from Evan Nisenson on Vimeo.

Paolo Mastropietro appears on Ghost in My Head, Jill Hennessey's debut album. Rob Afuzo, who attended NYU and used to play for the hair metal band Skid Row, plays drums. Ms. Hennessey appeared on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan, and is married to Mr. Mastropietro. Ms. Hennessey told the Daily News that "Ghost in My Head is the title of the album, and it's really an account of me trying to deal with the loss of somebody, and really not wanting to deal with it and taking a walk around Washington Square Park at 4 in morning about four days before Christmas."