Review: Later, at the Bar

This is the last time I'll harass you about this, I swear.

Check out the NY Times review!

Reading: Later, at the Bar

Hello everyone!

I am writing to inform you all of a reading to take place this Tuesday, May 8, at 6PM at the Publick House in Brookline . The book:

Later, at the Bar by Rebecca Barry

Rebecca is an old friend of John Hodgman's, who some of you know from our Brookline schooldays. When Rebecca decided to do a tour of bars with her book, to complement her more traditional bookstore tour, John said: "You have to read in Brookline! Contact Jen Deaderick!"

I am the center of Brookline literary life. Perhaps you didn't know that.

So, Rebecca did contact me. I set up this reading, and she and I became fast friends through the magic of email.

The book is amazing. Really. Don't take my word for it; read the NY Times Book Review. It's a series of linked short stories about people who sort of waste their lives away in the same bar. It's funny and poignant and all those good things.

I'm sure the Times will do a better job of describing it.

Again, the reading is at the Publick House in Brookline. That's right in Washington Square at 1648 Beacon Street.

It starts at 6PM and should last about an hour, although you can stay at the Publick House for as long as you'd like.

Rembs and I will be there front and center. I do hope you can make it.

-Jen

P.S. - If you have a Mac, I have attached, for your convenience (and as a shout-out to John) a pre-formed iCal event. If you open the file, the event should pop right into your iCal, like Athena springing from the head of Zeus.

Playground Project: Sennott Park- Cambridge, MA

One of the Beautiful Trees

LOCATION: Broadway, East of Prospect, Cambridge, MA (map)

T STOP: Central Square, Red Line

STRUCTURES:

• Little Kid Climbing Structure (small slides, including double; spiral slide; arc climber; flippy toys on walls)
• Big Kid Climbing Structure (big tube slide; lots of hand-over-hand, vertical ladder thingees, including a round one; monorail slidey thing)
• 2 Baby Swings
• 1 Tire Swing
• 3 Small Trees that might be good for climbing

KIDS:

The playground is part of a school, so it is probably packed during school time. We were lucky we went on a weekend day. Still, a nice mix of kids; i.e. economic and cultural differences. Lots of Big Boys, which Rosie loves, but might be stressful for some little kids. The playground adjoins a basketball court, so there are a lot of safely removed big kids to watch and admire.

SITTING AND READING POSSIBILITIES:

The playground is small and fenced in, so it's great if you want to sit and read while the child plays. There are a lot of benches, and even two picnic tables. Plus, the wooden perimeter is slightly raised, so you could perch there if necessary.

COFFEE POSSIBILITIES:

A million. The closest is Carberry's, which also has great sandwiches and whatnot. You'll walk right past it if you're coming by T. Starbucks is right next to the T stop. Toscanini's is a couple of blocks away. Coffee heaven!

PICTURES:

Climbing Up Big Kid Structure...

...and Sliding Down the Tube Slide!

Swinging with the Two Climbing Structures Behind

More about Nikki Giovanni

From GetReligion.org:



"My strange new respect for Nikki Giovanni"

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Judith Warner is So Great

The Life A Mother 'Should' Have

Playground Project

Now that it's getting warm, and my semester is about to end, I am in
the final planning stages for the Playground Project.

"What is this Playground Project?" you might ask.

Rosie and I are going to go to as many different playgrounds as we
can this summer. We've already picked out some early contenders. Each
trip will be documented in writing on this very blog... pictures
might even be involved. In fact, pictures are highly likely to occur!

Friends might join us, and their reactions will be taken into
account. They may even be asked to write corresponding comments with
my entries.

Anything could happen! Brace yourself!

-Jen

Your Only True Existence is on Your Blog

My class is creating blogs today. Now they will all officially exist. We have discussed that you might want to think twice about posting something that you don't want other people to read...duh. This generation doesn't get that sometimes. The private/public line has gotten a bit warped.

Nikki Giovanni

Just thinking about Virginia Tech...

"There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to save the world I do think it's not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect."