Items tagged with 'people'
What's up around the Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: swinging, specialing, garage saling, and probably a few other gerunds.
A Rachael Ray memoir?
There's a rumor floating around this week that The Ray is working on a memoir about her rise from North Country girl-next-door to national media brand. And the proposed titled? EVOhNo.
The best joke about all this comes from Robyn Lee at Serious Eats: "Whether or not you'll be able to finish it in 30 minutes or less is yet to be determined."
photo: CBS / King World
When doodie calls
Steve Relles
Think your job is well, crappy, sometimes? Meet Steve Relles of Delmar. His job is literally crappy, and yet ... he loves it.
We are Jeneric
Jen and Eric from We are Jeneric. (Get the name now?)
We were lucky enough to catch a set from local duo We are Jeneric at the Grand Street Arts on Saturday night. We'd heard them a little bit on their MySpace page, but this was our first time seeing them live. And it was great -- funny and charming and more exuberant than we would have expected after hearing them online. Sgt. Dunbar was also there and they played along on a few songs, which was a lot of fun.
So, check 'em out. They have a bunch of songs on MySpace -- we recommend "O Albany We Hope" and "Deeper Than Our Love." NPR's site has a song they wrote for last year's RPM Challenge. And they're playing at Red Square on July 26.
What's rolling through the Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: sweetbread eating legislative leaders, Chicago-style hotdogs, awesome lobster bisque, the Many Nines Tour, and when is a gas tank just a gas tank.
Heather Bohm-Tallman, dog photographer
Pretty much everyone with a dog -- or any pet, for that matter -- has probably taken their fair share of dog pictures. It's not like three million plus photos on Flickr have been tagged "dog" by accident. But we'd never heard of anyone having their dog professionally photographed.
Then we came across Heather Bohm-Tallman, a photographer from the Saratoga area who shoots weddings, events and... dogs. "Really?" we thought, "That's kind of cool. And maybe a little weird. We gotta talk to her."
So we emailed Heather a bunch of questions and she was nice enough to answer...
Passing Fashion: Rachel and her anti-hoodie
Who?
Rachel, a marketer for All Star Body Art in Scotia.
Where?
Outside Borders on Broadway in downtown Saratoga.
Sum up your style with one word.
Classy!
(click on Rachel's pic for a closer look)
Rachael knocks off Ellen DeGeneres
Not even affable, sneaker-wearing talk show hosts are safe from the steam roller on its path to world domination. Rachael Ray, the daytime talk show hosted by, well, you know, won the daytime Emmy for best talk show (entertainment) over the weekend. RR beat out The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which had won the previous four years and apparently was the favorite again this year. (DeGeneres did win best for best host, though.)
Upon winning the award, The Ray proclaimed, "Wow! Holy cat."
photo: CBS / King World
One more about Russert's time in Albany
From a Washington Post story about his memorial service yesterday:
Russert's onetime boss, former New York governor Mario Cuomo, offered the day's only example of Russert blatantly lying. After Cuomo pushed through the nation's first seat-belt law in 1985, the two men were in a Buffalo motorcade when their car was struck from behind and Cuomo -- having forgotten to buckle up -- hit the dashboard. As reporters rushed over, Russert blurted out: "Thank God for the seat belt!"
Earlier on AOA:
+ Tim Russert and Albany
photo: Flickr user hyku, used under a CC license
Susan Merrick
Check out these cool note cards, prints and tote bags by local graphic designer Susan Merrick. These elephant cards are especially fun.
We think we have a new design crush.
The Mathematicians
Who says math geeks never get the girl?
Update: Their appearance has been canceled due to illness. But it looks like they'll be playing Glens Falls (for free!) on July 5.
Move over Schoolhouse Rock, The Mathematicians are taking "math rock" to a whole new level.
Yes, we said it. Math rock. It's coming to Art on Lark. And we promise it's far cooler than it sounds.
Tim Russert and Albany
RIP.
His from-out-of-nowhere death has a lot of people recalling memories of him. Quite a few of those memories are from Albany, which played a big role in his early career.
What's bubbling in the Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: dreams of light rail, tough summer jobs, bubble tea, enlightenment through eggplant, and how Rocco Mediate totally missed a good thing.
Brian Premo: Joe Bruno is like the guy who sunk the Titanic
This has been Joe's house for a long time.
Joe Bruno actually has a challenger this year for his state Senate seat. His name is Brian Premo. He's a defense attorney from Lansingburgh with a wife and four boys. And he's been endorsed by the Saratoga and Rensselaer County Democratic committees.
But Joe Bruno has been in the Senate for 32 years, he's been majority leader for 14 of those years. He's the most powerful Republican in New York State. Heck, seemingly half the buildings and parks in Rensselaer County are named after him. So why would a person do this to themselves?
AOA called Premo to ask: "What are you thinking?"
What's hot in The Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: tasteless diners, license plates, food finds in Troy, big-shotting, and giant cows.
Beekeeping in Center Square? Really?
Yes, really. Cindy Barclay has been keeping bees in downtown Albany for several years now, right in her backyard on Lancaster St. (She also keeps two hives in Delmar.) Her bees collect pollen from the flowers and trees in Washington Park, as well as from neighbor's gardens and window boxes. It's a setup that often leads to some interesting -- and unexpected -- flavors.
Crisan: at last, art you can eat
Claudia and Iggy.
It's a bakery! No, it's an art gallery! Hey kids -- it's a bakery AND an art gallery. And the art is edible. Crisan, the long gestating bakery/art gallery on Lark Street finally opened its doors this morning.
Artist Ana Claudia Crisan Calabria and her husband, jazz musician Iggy Calabria, are offering gelato, beautiful pastries and edible jewelery. Wait... what?
That's Ben! On The Daily Show!
Ben managed to make it out looking OK.
So, we checked out The Daily Politics yesterday and there was this picture of Hillary Clinton's "concession" (not) speech from Tuesday in NYC. We looked. Then we looked again. "Wait," we thought. "Isn't that Ben? Ben Jakes- Johnson from Albany? Right there-- four feet over Hillary's head (look for the red tie).
But it gets better. Turns out Aasif Mandvi from The Daily Show was there interviewing Hillary Clinton supporters (O.K. poking fun at Hillary supporters) for a segment that aired last night. And yes, they snagged an interview with A-Town Ben. We've always wondered what it'd be like to be interviewed for a Daily Show segment --walking that fine line between being in on the joke and being the butt of it. Ben clued us in on the experience.
What's kickin' in the Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent stroll through the Capital Region's online neighborhood: hostile Wal-Mart shoppers, good times in Troy, post-prom potpourri, and something where it shouldn't be.
The Rachael Ray scarf saga cannot be stopped
The latest: a group is threatening to boycott Dunkin Donuts because it didn't the run the now infamous scarf ad with Her Rachaelness -- it says pulling the ad is an appeasement to racists.
There is no victory, only degrees of defeat. And to think, all this started because some stylist at a commercial shoot picked up one scarf and not the other. The lesson here: pick your neckwear carefully. You never know when it could prompt mass stupidity.
Earlier on AOA:
+ The dumbest thing you'll ever read about Rachael Ray
+ One even dumber thing than the dumbest thing you'll ever read about Rachael Ray
What's sprouting in The Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent stroll through the Capital Region's online neighborhood: bus schedule mishaps, the TV station that needs to "rub two brain cells together," exploding mammogram machines, and a culinary mix tape.
From trash to trashion
Pieces from the M.T. Maiello's trashion collection.
This Friday night models will strut down a catwalk at Revolution Hall wearing outfits made of stuff other people threw away -- in the garbage. Designers have been working for months on the trash couture that will be showcased at the annual Trashion show. No, you won't find people wearing this stuff off the runway -- but what these designers can do with trash is pretty amazing.
So how does trash become trashion?
One even dumber thing than the dumbest thing you'll ever read about Rachael Ray
Apparently Dunkin' Donuts IS actually afraid we might mistake Rachael Ray for a terrorist
sympathizer. It looks like the folks at DD have yanked the ad in which La Rachael wears a scarf that Michelle Malkin and the folks at Little Green Footballs confused for some sort of terrorist fashion statement.
Now if only someone could could link Dunkin' Pizza to Al Qaeda.
The dumbest thing you will ever read about Rachael Ray
The conservative outrage machine has decided that Rachael Ray is a supporter of terrorism. Because of a scarf. (What, cheeseburger salad wasn't enough?)
What's buzzing in the Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: clairvoyant bartenders, swinging stomachs, and the question we've probably all wanted to ask Jerry Jennings.
UAlbany's Miss Universe contestant
Her name is Yvette Nsiah and she'll be representing Ghana at the pageant in July. Nsiah is a junior Africana studies major at UAlbany. She tells the TU she has a passion for "world issues," though on her MySpace page (or what looks like her MySpace page) she describes herself as an aspiring artist.
So, why did Nsiah get picked to represent Ghana at Donald Trump's pageant? The judges said she represented "the quintessence of Ghanaian femininity." And she has quite the smile, too.
A short video interview with Nsiah is embedded after the jump.
Gas hits four dollars and everyone's squeezed
At least here you get full service.
So, it's finally happened. Gas prices have crossed the four dollar mark. And while we're pretty sure somebody's getting rich, it certainly isn't the gas station owners.
Virgil's in Saratoga: coffee without the buzz
Unplug before entering.
Kathleen Quartararo wants you to visit Virgil's House, her coffee shop in Saratoga
Springs, but your laptop can stay at home. And your cell phone? Off, please.
In a day when most of us are looking for a place with a good latte AND free wifi, Kathleen is bucking the trend in an effort to create an old fashioned unplugged environment. No phones, no texting, no computers. Why? AOA called her (yes, on our cell phone) to find out.
And it's the bike by a mile!
Afterward, Willem sipped the sweet, sweet nectar of victory -- which looked a lot like a Starbucks frozen drink.
The bike easily beat out the car and bus in the National Bike Month Commuter Contest yesterday evening. Here are the final times among the various modes of transportation for the Starbucks (downtown Albany) to Starbucks (Stuyvesant Plaza) route, which was about five miles long:
1. First Bike - 15:41 (19 mph)
2. The Smart Car - 21:00 (14 mph)
3. The Bus Riders - 44:00 (6.8 mph)
Willem Heydendael rode the first bike to the finish. He commutes everyday from Troy to Albany Med, where he's a grad student in the neurosciences program. And get this, he says that during the past year he's only driven to AMC from Troy about six times. The rest of his trips were all on the bike.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Does it pay to ride the bus?
What's shaking in The Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: the dague unleashed, supermarket siting, a night at the theater, and more CDT&A.
Oh, thank goodness
If you were worried about that alleged spat between Oprah and Rachael Ray, well you can tuck in to your cheeseburger salad unburdened by fear. Her Rachaelness has told professional Oprah friend Gayle King that the rumors "broke her heart," but just aren't true -- especially after the Ray sent the Queen of All Media "snack of the day" for her majesty's birthday.
Yep. Happy birthday Oprah, here's snack of the day. Maybe there is something to the rumors.
What's blooming in The Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: weather obsession, Mother's Day near disaster, hot pants, and spanakopita...
That's why, Kentucky!
Matthew Loiacono has announced the winner of his Why Kentucky? contest (as in, why did he name his album Kentucky?) -- and the only person to guess the correct answer was helped out by the hint Matthew dropped here at AOA! Be sure to check out both the answer and the back story. It's pretty cool.
But, wait, there's more. Matthew was also looking for the "most awesome incorrect" answer -- and the winning entry is great. It involves Barbie.
Behold, "The Rachael"
One more reason it's good to be Rachael Ray: your friends design shoes just for you. And then sell them on QVC.
Taking over the world apparently involves being on your feet a lot, so Gretta Monahan says she designed "The Rachael" to be extra comfy and practical. Because her Rachaelness is (circular hand motion) just like all of us.
What's cooking in The Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: unexpected relationships, the perfect gift for your assistant, and the citadel of Susan Arbetter's womanhood.
One year behind the wheel of The Fagbug
Note to consumers: Rainbow flag paint job not standard on the VW bug.
It's been a whole year since Erin Davies first discovered the words "UR Gay" and "Fag" scrawled in red spray paint on her VW bug, which was parked near her downtown Albany apartment.
After her initial humiliation, Erin became fascinated by people's reactions to the graffiti on the car. That sparked the idea to drive across the country with the words on the car, and to film the experience in an effort to open up a dialogue and raise awareness of gay rights. She's also spoken at numerous college campuses throughout the year. She says it's very exciting to have made it to the one year mark, following a year filled with ups and downs.
Talking with Tim Gunn at Macy's
"Make it work!"
Well, we did it. After a week of agonizing over our respective wardrobes, we finally selected our outfits and set out for the "good" Macy's to meet fashion guru Tim Gunn.
The first thing you need to know is that, seriously, this guy is just as nice in person as he is on TV. In fact, he may be the nicest celeb we've ever met (because, you know, there have been so many). Tim was in town for a Liz Clairborne fashion show at Macy's (he's now chief creative officer for Liz Claiborne) and he set aside a few minutes to answer some of our questions -- and some of yours. Here's how it went...
Another trip through the online 'hood
We added a few sites to the Neighborhood this week and it's quickly becoming one of the first things we check each morning.
Among the things people have been talking about recently 'round the 'hood: CelinaBean's egg roll mystery solved, the place women just can't stay away from, and stinky people.
Rachael and Bill's
NYDN is reporting that Rachael Ray is teaming up with Bill Clinton -- yes, really, that Bill Clinton -- to open a "pop-up" restaurant for one night only in the West Village. It's a fund raiser for the Ray's Yum-o! org, which aims to help families cook healthier meals.
This won't be the first time her Rachaelness and 42 have teamed up. They announced a partnership last year to fight childhood obesity. Bill even appeared on the Rachael Ray Show and -- maybe not surprisingly -- Rachael had trouble keeping him out of her kitchen.
Rachael Ray: I liked everything that old Italian men like
Time Magazine hit the Ray with 10 reader-submitted questions recently about gossip, what she ate as a kid (sardines and squid, thus the old Italian man comment) and whether she would punch Tony Bourdain if given the chance:
No, I actually love and appreciate Tony Bourdain's work, and I think everybody has the right to their own opinion.
Well played.
The good stuff from the interview doesn't actually show up in the printed interview, it's in the accompanying podcast. For example, she says in the audio version that Bourdain wasn't necessarily wrong to criticize her for hooking up with Dunkin' Donuts. That doesn't mean she thinks she's contributing to the country's obesity problem by working with the donut chain, but she seemed to understand why people might have concerns.
And, Andy S. White from Schodack, the answer to your question about fast food is: "There isn't a fast food that I don't like, really. [Laughs.]"
photo: CBS / King World
Drew D'Amelia, the Mathmaticious guy
The glasses were a prop.
After we saw Shen 9th grader Drew D'Ameilia's Mathmaticious, a math-inspired parody of Fergie's Fergalicious that's been viewed more than 1.1 million times on YouTube, we ran the numbers and figured there was a high probability that he'd be interesting.
That turned out to be true. And it's a good thing, because we didn't bother to check our work.
They Might Be Giants at The Egg: The Swearabration and the other show
TMBG will be playing not one, but two shows at L'Oeuf on Saturday. But check your program-- these shows are very different.
Talking with They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh about The Egg
That's John on the right. Of course, that's also John on the left.
The Egg is "exciting and old," so much so that it prompted They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh to write a song about it. TMBG is back in town this week to play a couple of shows at the "performance orb." John was nice enough to talk with AOA about one of the stranger venues the band has played -- and let us in on what they were thinking the first time they encountered our giant concrete egg.
Rachael Ray, senior director for recipe policy
So, it looks like a bunch of "family" recipes posted on John McCain's campaign web site were actually ripped off -- verbatim -- from the Food Network. The campaign is now blaming an intern (maybe the kid confused Cindy McCain and Sandra Lee, they do kind of look alike). A McCain aide explained further:
"Apparently a web intern of ours appointed an unknowing Rachel Ray to be our Senior Director for recipe policy ... The intern was dealt with swiftly and the site has been taken down for revision. Our humble apologies to Food Network."
We're wondering if "senior director for recipe policy" is a cabinet level position. And if it's not, maybe it should be. We've heard the situation room could use better snacks.
photo: CBS / King World
Heard around the neighborhood
Heard this time around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: a report on the non-VIP duck at Jack's, a haul from the closest Trader Joe's, and a close encounter with "blogging royalty."
Why Kentucky?
Matthew Loiacono -- of Kamikaze Hearts and Collar City Records fame -- has a new solo album and he's called it... Kentucky. Why? Good question. He's hoping you have the answer.
Matthew has posted mp3s of the album at his site. Swing by, download them, have a listen and see if you can guess why he named the album Kentucky. The person who guesses correctly will win $50.
This seemed like a tough one, so we asked Matthew for a hint. Here's what he sent along:
Shirley Jackson on Charlie Rose
RPI president Shirley Jackson was on Charlie Rose last week. She joined a group of other science bold-face names at Charlie's oak table in the room without walls to talk about "The Imperative of Science." The discussion focused, in part, on how the US is falling behind in scientific education and understanding among the general public.
Here's a little bit of what Jackson said:
"The question becomes... how did such a mess come about? And it's almost as if we've had so much that has come out of science and the technological innovations built on those discoveries that we've come to take things for granted. Moreover, those technologies have driven almost a kind of information overload. So people are not able to sort through what is fact and what is fiction. I like to say that the Internet does not come with a credibility filter. And therefore, you have to get back to the habit of thought, the way of approaching complexity, that learning science even at a very elemental level helps an individual to do."
Video of the full episode is embedded after the jump.
Apparently there is some accounting for taste
After seeing today that UAlbany accounting professor Michelle Moshier has been declared UAlbany's hottest prof, we decided to follow up a bit. You know, due diligence and all that.
Here's a clip from the Albany Student Press article about Moshier:
"All the guys in her class go just to look at her!" UAlbany junior and Moshier student Jacqueline Rodd said.
Sorry gentlemen, but this looker is a missus. Her husband, she has been married to for 15 years, actually doesn't like his wife's high "hotness" factor.
"He just doesn't want to hear anything about it," Moshier said. "He's like, 'You need to start dressing differently,' and I don't go in there in a tube top. I dress professionally! I think I dress young."
"She dresses, like, business-sexy," Rodd said.
Moshier said she often has female students asking her where she buys her clothes.
"I go in trying to look nice."
Rev Records
For local music label The Rev Records, it's all about cooperation from friends, families and neighbors. Even founder Harith Abdullah's mother has pitched in, helping to sew fabric CD covers for one album.
Since it's official launch in November 2006 with singer-songwriter Laura Boggs' debut album, "Whiskey & Springtime," Harith says he's worked to maintain that community spirit.
"The original idea was always about cooperation, and helping artists do things they couldn't necessarily do on their own," he says.
"Strange Culture" in Troy
One of the illustrations used in the documentary "Strange Culture"
The leap from artist/professor to alleged national security threat isn't as far as you might think. You can find out how far on Friday at The Sanctuary for Independent Media's screening of "Strange Culture," which follows the story of University of Buffalo Professor Steven Kurtz.
Heard around the neighborhood
What do Gloria Steinem, minivans and recycling have in common? Well, nothing, really. But they're all getting talked about in the Capital Region's online neighborhood.
Melissa St. Pierre
What comes after post-classicism?
We stumbled across this North Adams musician a few weeks ago and her music is kind of awesome. It's funky and mechanical in a way that reminds us of a hive of robotic bees. She's releasing an album, "Specimens," in June. Here's how her MySpace page describes her music:
MELISSA ST. PIERRE tosses classicism and post-classicism overboard, utilizing the prepared piano -- John Cage's notorious instrument of choice -- and electronic enhancement to sail resolutely in the direction of rock & roll. Peppering the strings, hammers, and dampers of the piano with a variety of objects, she transforms the instrument's typical timbre: sparkling gamelans chatter; harrowing voodoo drums call out in the night.
Check out this picture of St. Pierre playing the prepared piano. And there's a video for her song "Fig. VIII" embedded after the jump. It's a little mesmerizing.
Around the neighborhood
Here are a few things that caught our interest while taking a trip through the Capital Region's online neighborhood:
+ If you say that Barack Obama is "charismatic, rarely negative, isn't mean," does that make you biased? It's been quite the topic of discussion today on Kristi G's On The Edge blog.
+ Prompted by the story about the gambling ring bust that nabbed guys with nicknames such as Penguin and Bindy, Rob Madeo put the names of a bunch of famous-for-Albany people through the Mob Nickname Generator. And the results are pretty funny. Example: the nickname generated for Jerry Jennings was "Baby Buns."
+ Alex, of Alex and Cati fame, has the scoop on Mahar's and a few other places to hit if you're looking for a bar with quality beer. Of Mahar's, Alex says "Some people have referred to the bartenders as 'beer snobs,' and that could be. I certainly wouldn't recommend ordering a Coors light." Too true.
There's a lot more going on around the neigborhood.
Governor Hillary?
Can you imagine her sparring with Joe Bruno over the budget?
Newsweek's Jonathan Alter reports that there's some talk within the Democrat Party that Hillary Clinton could drop out of the presidential race to become... Governor of New York:
In the event that Paterson had to resign, the New York State Constitution calls for a gubernatorial election this November. Clinton would be the favorite in that contest if she were interested. Were a politically wounded Paterson to serve out Spitzer's term, which ends in 2010, Clinton would no doubt be a strong potential candidate to succeed him.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Governor Hillary?
The guy behind the Trader Joe's campaign
Our blog BFF CelinaBean has an interview with Bruce Roter, the organizer of the We Want Trader Joe's in the Capital District group. Here's a clip:
CB: There are a lot of causes out there to get involved in. Why Trader Joe's?
BR: I see it as a need, perhaps it was a personal need, but I just love shopping at Trader Joe's. And much to my delight, I've been joined by hundreds of other residents of the capital region who share that passion.
But to dispel any notion that this is what I do ever single moment of the day, that's not the case at all. I do have a real career and my real avocation is that of a composer. I compose orchestral music. I've written music which emulates the Middle East peace process, which celebrates first responders, so I'd like to think that I'm multi-dimensional....I've been commissioned by orchestras around the country including right here at home by the Albany Symphony Orchestra.
CB: So when did this Trader Joe's thing start for you?
BR: It began this past summer in mid-August when I was in the park talking to a friend. I was toying with starting a little club like this, and when I mentioned Trader Joe's there was this wonderful reaction on this friend's face. I knew that instantly that there were other kindred spirits in the Capital Region who would also be interested in this campaign.
And I seem to have simply given voice to all these other hundreds of other people including many professionals from our region. I've been emailed by doctors, lawyers, architects, business people, politicians, homemakers. The people who are part of this campaign really run the gamut of the fabric of this society in the Capital District.
As we recently found out, there's quite a clamor to bring a TJ's here.
photo: CelinaBean
Local premiere tonight for doc about the lives of transgender people
Here's something to look for at this evening's Troy Night Out. Ethan Bach, an MFA student in electronic arts at RPI, will be premiering his documentary short on the lives of transgender people at the 51 3rd Street Gallery.
Ethan says he wanted "Reclaiming the Pieces" to go beyond politics and anatomy to show transgender people who have found their sense of place in life. The 17-minute film interviews four people from across the country. Ethan plans to turn the film into a full-length documentary.
He told AOA that he "wanted to show that we're more than just bodies and chemicals, that we also have things to give back to the community."
"Reclaiming the Pieces" will have its Capital Region debut for one night only. Screenings are scheduled for 5:30, 7, 7:30 and 8:30. A reception will be held at 6 p.m. An accompanying art show will feature works by Ethan and artist Aryn Zev.
Still: Ethan Bach
Elizabeth Banks to play Laura Bush
So, apparently Oliver Stone is directing a biopic about the Bush presidency (it's called "W") and he's cast Pittsfield's Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush. OK, we can see it. But it's going to take some work. As someone once noted, the First Lady "frequently appears as though she's had a run-in with a zealous taxidermist." So, that might take some extra time in makeup.
Banks photo: David Shankbone
Bush photo: Flickr user RBerteig, used under a CC license
Rachael Ray in Lake George
The Ray will be back at her alma mater, Lake George High School, for a fund raiser on April 25. Tickets are $25 (limit four) and you have to buy them at the school between 10 am and 1 pm this coming Saturday (they're expecting to sell out).
Apparently this will be the seventh year in a row that her Rachaelness has done the fund raiser. The money goes toward a scholarship fund and media equipment.
photo: CBS / King World
Retiring racehorses
A while back we linked to a story about the New York State's efforts to save thoroughbred racehorses from the slaughterhouse. They're working with an organization called The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation to help retrain the horses and find them homes.
This got us thinking about retiring racehorses. Why retire them? Where do they retire to? A beach house in Boca? We called the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Executive Director Diana Pikulski for some answers.