The Meet and Greet @ writerjax.blog-city.com

Weekend Update: Dante's Landmark

Writerjax — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:03:00 GMT

I took last Friday off to get some freelance work done, but I got a little side-tracked. Instead, I went on a sunset boat trip with my brother:

(click on my bro to view the tiniest video ever!)

shot some photos of creepy staircases:

...and trekked up to Provincetown for a day of sight-seeing, shopping, and noshing. The highlight of the trip was lunch at the Landmark Cafe, where we met the inventor of the Landmark Chicken Sandwich, Dante (who also had his own pens with his name on them. Why don't I think of these things?).

Dante had already won me over before we learned that he had patents pending on a chicken sandwich - when I asked about the restroom, he replied "We don't have one, but I'd be glad to bring you a cup." Everyone loves a wise-ass.

The sandwich was a grilled chicken breast with roasted red peppers and sauteed onions. I opted for the whole belly clams, but it looked like a well-put-together sandwich from across the table, and the Landmark's cole slaw made with vinaigrette instead of mayo, which accompanies every dish, was really tasty. I failed to ask Dante if he invented the slaw as well; he was in the back somewhere looking for a cup.

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Lebowski Fest's Founders Lay it All Down

writerjax — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:09:00 GMT

Holding court over the Lebowski art exhibit are Scott Shuffitt and Will Russell, and it’s in the gallery that I have my first conversation with the founders.

Russell explains that Lebowski Fest started inauspiciously enough -- he and Scott, both in their early thirties, met through mutual friends about seven years ago and, upon discovering their shared love for The Big Lebowski and other Coen Brothers films, began mulling the idea of hosting a party at a bowling alley with a Lebowski theme.

“We figured 20 of our closest friends would show up,” said Russell, with a thick Kentucky drawl that he and Kinney also share.
But they underestimated the draw their impromptu homage to the film would have. That first year, hundreds flocked to the party, many dressed as their favorite characters and quoting lines from the film as often as they made drink orders for beers, sarsaparillas, and syrupy White Russians in chintzy plastic cups. The next year, when Shuffitt and Russell decided to give Lebowski Fest another go, people came to Louisville in the thousands.

Now, Shuffitt estimates that visitors from about 35 states travel to the fest, though he said as the event grows it’s getting harder to track who is coming from where. Lebowski followers are increasingly creative with their wardrobe choices, too -- while many still come dressed as Walter, in his trademark field vest, or The Dude, in his bathrobe and sunglasses, or Jeffrey Lebowski, in his three-piece suit and wheelchair.

But some, Russell said, spend months crafting their original costumes, not unlike Star Wars fans, Rocky Horror disciples, or Trekkies.
“Last year, some one came dressed as a Creedence tape,” he said, to which Shuffitt added that several people have attended dressed like a severed toe.

“For whatever reason, it’s always really attractive women who come as a toe,” he said. “I can’t figure it out.”

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Jammin' with The Berries (too much?)

writerjax — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:27:00 GMT

I have a tip for all of my mommy-blogger pals: The Berries.

I recently interviewed the producers of this all-girl kids group, which stars in a set of straight-to-DVD episodes and on a full-length music CD.

The Berries are Raz, Straw, Blue, and sometimes Cran – she shows up from time to time toting a wheelbarrow full of veggies for the girls to enjoy (cannibalism or nepotism?).

Of course, the producers hope the Berries will kick Barney’s sorry, purple arse and eventually score their own national syndicated TV show, but regardless of what happens, the Berries already have a stellar team workingfor them. It includes Ben Stellpflug, a songwriter who has worked with Disney, among other credits, and Jon Sellew, a script- and copywriter who’s scribbled for the Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and the Children’s Television Workshop.

The Berries’ creators are not writers, or singers, nor have they ever worked in television before. But they are dads who thought the children’s programming market could be a little more robust, and who also cleared their best quarter ever recently.

Just goes to show you what happens when you hire good talent.

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The Machine Aficionado

writerjax — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:52:00 GMT

A few months ago, I received an advance copy of John Robison's new book, Look Me In the Eye: My Life With Asperger's.

I was excited to read it for a few reasons. First, Robison is a well-known business owner in Massachusetts and beyond; his company services and sells high-end and exotic cars like Porches, Rolls Royces, and Mercedes. I've interviewed him in the past, as part of an article on vintage auto restoration, so I already knew what an interesting guy he is.

Second, he's the older brother of one of my favorite writers, Augusten Burroughs. When I put the vintage car story together, he was refurbishing a Rolls for Burroughs, and when I contacted the latter to ask (timidly) for an interview -- vintage autos from the owner's perspective -- Burroughs instead e-mailed me a lengthy personal essay, which the magazine I work for published. It was just one of many articles and books I've read and loved by the author, so I was looking forward to seeing how Robison's writing voice compared to that of his kid sibling.

Finally, Asperger's Syndrome is a topic that I've actually covered as a writer before. In a different job a few years ago, I interviewed Tony Attwood , who is considered one of the leading experts on the condition. I read his book, too, and was amazed by this still largely misunderstood 'autism-spectrum disorder.' It's characterized by difficulty with social interaction, and by intense interests in very specific things, such as trains, planes, highway systems, electronics, sushi, you name it.

In Robison's case, his 'Aspergian traits' are seen in his proficiency and knowledge of all things automotive, as well as sound equipment and cameras. He calls himself a 'machine aficionado' to tie it all together.

I think the most notable thing about Robison is that he debunks the theory that all Aspergians are terribly clinical people who only understand non-human mechanisms and read stereo instructions for fun. On the contrary, he's one of the more colorful people I've ever interviewed. He's funny and sharp, and detailed as all hell, and that is an awesome thing for a journalist. He's got a resume that rivals most, too. His interest in sound equipment led to a gig with KISS, creating special effects guitars. Then, he worked for a major toy company as an engineer. He still attends Porsche shows all over the world, shoots amazing photos, rides around on his Harley in a keen leather vest, and now, he's a best-selling author with a book in its ninth printing in the U.S., and two more memoirs on the drawing board.

I can't imagine what John Robison is going to do next. But somehow, I feel like I haven't interviewed him for the last time.

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Continuing to Unravel Life Sciences ...

writerjax — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 05:01:00 GMT

This is Steve Richter, the owner of Microtest, a lab that researches, tests, and manufactures cutting-edge drugs and medical devices.

The company is on the verge of becoming a major player in the life sciences, after a billion dollar initiative for life science and biotechnology research was handed down by Mass. Governor Deval Patrick earlier this year.

I interviewed Richter about his company last week, and shot this photo .

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Zoom in at the Inn

Writerjax — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:02:00 GMT

I recently published a story about Diana Mara Henry 's new bed and breakfast in historic Forest Park, a section of Springfield, Mass.

Henry is an acclaimed photojournalist who has captured images during some of America's most turbulent times of change -- she was once Former NOW President Bella Abzug's personal photographer, covered the 1972 Democratic Convention, hobnobbed with Ronald Reagan, Gloria Steinem, and Andy Warhol, and has a slew of photos housed in the Smithsonian.

Her photography business continues, including a project to place her work featuring women of distinction on a set of U.S. postage stamps, but Henry has taken on a new challenge at the Lathrop House on Sumner Ave. in Springfield -- a Victorian home now serving business, leisure, and family travelers in vintage opulence, but with an easy, home-spun feel. Henry's photos adorn the walls alongside an eclectic mix of original artwork and flea market finds -- the effect is surprisingly seamless -- and her guestbook is quickly filling with a diverse set of visitors ranging from canines to Congressmen (Holly, a celebrity bloodhound, visited with her own film crew, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia spent a night while visiting colleges with his son).

Henry is a pleasant, engaging host. She has countless stories to tell of her own travels, while at the same time maintains a peace that is as welcoming to weary guests as her two feline concierges, Bobbie and Toesey.

Before I left our interview, Henry gave me a signed print of Bill Clinton she'd taken in the 1970s - Clinton was still a young, non-inhaling sprite at the time, speaking out at a political rally.

Who knows what other images Henry has stashed away in the grand rooms of the Lathrop House ... it might behoove Bill and Hill to pay a visit.

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They're Nice, But Seemed a Little Plastic

Writerjax — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:09:00 GMT

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The Rainbows in the Clouds

Writerjax — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 01:24:00 GMT

"Who are the rainbows in your clouds?" That's what Dr. Maya Angelou asked the audience at a Women's Conference on April 27, 2007. Sitting in an ornate, wrought-iron chair, Angelou relayed stories of her childhood, her years as a dancer, and her rise from obscurity to one o the most prolific writers and poets of our day.

She also spoke about the people who drive us all forward -- the "rainbows in the clouds" -- who inspire, teach, and support.

Announcing that she "didn't trust people who don't laugh," she closed with a poem titled Health-food Diner, inspired by a trip to a healthy eatery that resulted only in cravings for a steak and a smoke.

Finally, Angelou offered a nugget of advice, that epitomized her prophtetic brand of simplicity.

"To be who we say we are," she said with a shake of the head and a little shrug. "That's it, really."

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Mama Mia!

Writerjax — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:18:00 GMT

I am covering a Women's Conference all day today. I just wanted to take a break to post one of my shots from the morning, of beautiful Mia Farrow . She spoke about her personal life, but also of her work in Darfour, as a Unicef Ambassador and an activist against the genocide currrently underway in the region.

Farrow took some amazing pictures -- which is all the more notable given the fact that photojournalists are banned from Sudan, and those who try to sneak in are veritable targets. Check out her Web site for more information on her work, and to view some of her own photojournalism. The majority of the shots were taken with a small camera she taped to her belly to hide from the authorities.

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Deval in the Headlights

Writerjax — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:13:00 GMT

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick let me get up in his grill recently.
He's unveiling his budget soon, which means Howie Carr
will have something else to harp about besides Patrick's choice of motor vehicle. Photo Copyright JCS 2007.

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Shooting from the Hip with Legend Lou Jones

Writerjax — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:14:00 GMT

Photographer Lou Jones has photographed the sloping roofs of Japanese homes as well as inmates on Death Row. He’s trekked to the top of a Hawaiian hotel with his mother, 86-years-old at the time, in tow, so he could show her what he does for a living.

<> He’s been to Cuba as a journalist twice, dodged bullets in a Guatemalan civil war, and has spent time in thirteen international jails, all in the name of getting the perfect shot.

His latest speaking tour, planned around his new book Travel and Photography: Off the Charts , walks audiences through a slew of Jones’ photographs from locales across the globe – the Iowa State Fair followed by the City of the Dead in Cairo; Paris, France to Paris, Maine; the opulent shores of Waikiki to the dregs of Jamaica.

Just getting a glimpse at these amazing photos would have been enough. Every one of them is bursting with color and shot with a deep depth of field that still lets the subject pop, a talent I envy greatly. They’re also striking and strikingly accurate accounts of destinations all over the world, depicting people, places, and things. That proves that Jones is not only one of the best and most prolific photographers on the planet, he is also an accomplished documentarian of the human experience.

But beyond exhibiting his work, Jones offered some insight into the art of travel photography as well, and I was all ears – grasshopper ready to learn from the master.

• First, Jones says when in doubt, start with architecture. Look for details and interesting points of view, and use available light when possible. He said dawn and dusk are two of his favorite times to shoot, calling the light those periods provide ‘the gloaming.’ In addition, Jones advises:

• Walk. Jones says the best shots are found while wandering, and he’s worn out plenty a pair by doing just that.

• Respect the culture in which you’re immersed. That doesn’t mean you must learn every single turn of a phrase and cultural anomaly, but Jones says do the best you can. Research before you go, ask questions when you get there, and tread lightly when you’re unsure … that’s how he was able to get such images as a religious ceremony in Singapore – he remembered to slip off his shoes in the church – and of a Jamaican fisherman on his boat – he remembered to ask permission to shoot what was likely the man’s most prized possession. And in the case of a net weaver in the same country, he remembered to have a few bucks in his pocket in this impoverished region.

• Listen to your mentors. Jones recalled a time when a French teacher brought him to Paris and suggested a few shots of the Eiffel Tower – Jones refused, thinking it was too generic a subject. Upon returning to the states, he was inundated with requests for images of the tower. “Listen to the lessons,” he says.

• Wait. Some of the best travel photos come after minutes or hours of standing in the same place. Among Jones’ own examples are an image of a little girl running past the jetties of Martha’s Vineyard and of a private conversation in Cuba, both of which resulted from patience.

There were other lessons and many included in his book, which I bought without a second thought. But perhaps the best aspect of learning from Lou Jones was his readiness to teach, and to listen to others himself. He seemed genuinely interested when I talked to him a little but about my own travel assignments, and when I got home, I peeled back the cover of Off the Charts to read what he’d inscribed in my book, praying it would be one more nugget of knowledge and experience.

I wasn’t disappointed.

“Take small steps at first, Jaclyn,” he wrote. “Then, all will be revealed.”

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Journalism Cool Factor #1 - meeting niche celebrities

Writerjax — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 19:30:00 GMT

From left to right: the photo of Pete Hamill and me that's in my office; Howard Fineman and Warren Zevon images (c) JCS 2006, 1998; Jimmy Vivino and Steaks and Chops

The best thing about being a journalist is you get to learn little bits and pieces about a million different things within a given time period -- I call it becoming a dinner-table expert on a topic.

You glean just enough information to be engaging and/or interesting for as long as it takes to finish a glass of red wine, but not so much that you take away from the tasteful melange that is the tomato basil mozzarella salad, on a good night. The apple crisp in the Lean Cuisine on a less tantilizing evening.

For instance, I have become a recent dinner-time expert on Pill Cams, the use of theater as an organizational intervention in corporate settings (www.dramaworks.com), the gas crisis and its effects on short-range travel, the disappearance of privately-owned photo labs (a travesty), and vintage auto restoration.

You also meet and greet with a lot of folks, most are ok. These are what Chuck Palahniuk referred to as 'single- serving friends' in his book Fight Club, and I couldn't describe them any better. One such SSF was the owner of an auto restoration business and dealership who showed me a Rolls Royce he was restoring for his brother, only to reveal later that his brother is one of my favorite authors, Augusten Burroughs (www.augusten.com).

As I was running my hand down the wood paneling of Augusten Burroughs' Rolls (I mean, seriously, people. That is pretty cool.) -- I asked his big bro if maybe the author would contribute to my story, and the next day I had an email waiting for me from Burroughs, writing directly from Sydney, Australia.

Not only did he help, he wrote up an essay detailing his auto restoration escapades. Totally above and beyond the call of duty and pretty stand-up, I thought, for a guy whose best-seller Running With Scissors will soon hit the big screen.

That email is safely enshrined in my 'SAVE' file on Outlook as proof that in some small way, my career bumped uglies with that of Augusten Burroughs, and created the ultimate JCF.

Other Niche Celebs that have crossed my path recently:

Anthony Bourdain

Pete Hamill

Madeline Albright

Howard Fineman

Ethan Hawke

Amy Henry (The Apprentice)

Ann Crittenden

John 'JohnnyJet' DiScala

Tony Horwitz ( Pulitzer-winning author of Blue Latitudes and Confederates in the Attic)

Warren Zevon

Jimmy Vivino and Steak and Chops

Will Russell, founder of Lebowski Fest

Gov. Deval Patrick

Mia Farrow

Maya Angelou

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