Though for many, Leslie Harpold requires no introduction, it’s Andrew’s and my great pleasure to announce that she has joined The Morning News as a new contributing writer. Leslie (previous stories at TMN here) reaches us from many points in the Web, including Smug, Hoopla, and the Hoopla/Harpold 500.

Also, you may have seen her in various Steve Gutenberg vehicles, pairs of Prada boots, or perhaps one-drink-tipsy at a few art openings, but we’d prefer to focus on her Internet accomplishments. The first time I met Leslie was over cheeseburgers at MemeCon – MaineLINE 2002 where she stunned audiences throughout the weekend with her trivia one-upmanship, only bested by keynote speaker Josh Allen. She will contest this fact.

Leslie will be reporting for us from San Francisco, and until we can convince her to move back to New York, look for her regular updates on burritos, bums, and constant good weather.

In other news, Sarah Hepola visited us this weekend with her boyfriend Lindsay, who drained my scotch collection. Sarah, it turns out, is as smart in person as she is on paper. Lindsay, it turns out, is only human.

We saw Dennis yesterday and he was kind enough to pick up the tab, so I’d like to return his generosity by publicly announcing he has no idea what to call his novel, and is eagerly anticipating .

Finally, more recommendations as of late, based on my personal enjoyments in the past seven days: the chicken livers at BEPPE; choosing new curtains; Sentimental Education; converting all my CDs into MP3s; Twelfth Night at BAM (anticipated for tonight); preparing to order Jamison lamb; The Sweet Smell of Success; the Dan Kopp exhibit at Daniel Silverstein; anything written by Jeffrey Steingarten; New-Series; Strauss’s Adagio cantabile from Sonata in B minor, Op. 5, performed by Glenn Gould; friends and family returning from Paris with foie gras and Vacherin de Mont D'Or; Architecture for Humanity; more added as my brain un-freezes.

Ah, yes, and a last note: the weekly photo feature may start this week, may start next, but expect good things from strange corners.



Lots of love and not much else,
Rosecrans