Beauty is Embarrassing

I'm really looking forward to the upcoming documentary about the incredible artist Wayne White titled Beauty is Embarrassing. It seems like it really captures the creative spirit on film and I love the closing quote "Do what you love, it's going to lead to where you want to go"!

The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys at MSG 3.22.2012

The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys played an amazing show last night at Madison Square Garden to a sold out crowd. The Arctic Monkeys opened up the show with a laid back vibe and some excellent musicianship and even though the crowd was still pouring in throughout their set it was clear the boys from Sheffield had a large loyal audience for their 45 minute set. The Black Keys hit the stage joined by a few backing musicians and some pretty awesome graphic visuals and onstage lighting. After a few intense songs the backing band left the stage and guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney showed off how much sound two musicians can deliver by themselves. The show ramped up and the energy intensified leading up to a great encore featuring a giant disco ball and an exhausted crowd.

Don "Draping" is the new Tebowing (which is the new Planking)

Wednesday I read about the new trend of "Draping" like Mad Men's Don Draper, which, granted sounds more like viral marketing than an oddball social trend but since I'm a big fan of the show and I happen to be eating a the legendary P.J. Clarke's for dinner (which has been regularly mentioned on the show) it seemed like it should join the hysteria sweeping the twitterverse.

Educators Study Tour to Japan

I wanted to let any educators that have an interest in traveling to Japan this summer about the Japan Society's fantastic Educators Tours. In 2009 I traveled to Japan for three weeks thanks to the Japan Society's Educators Study Tour and it was a life changing trip which added a number of lessons to my arsenal that I still teach each year soI highly recommend it. It's open nationwide this year and the deadline is this month so here's the information:

Educators Study Tour to Japan Applications due: March 15
Pre-departure orientation: June 28 – June 30
Tour dates: July 1-July 22

Middle and high school educators will be selected to participate in a three-week study tour to Japan in July of 2012. Study tour highlights include visits to local schools, homestays with Japanese families, and a wide range of site visits in Japan including Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Aichi and Wakayama, as well as a part of the Tohoku region. Open to educators nationwide.

Cost: $1,000 (includes airfare, accommodations, orientation & meals)
For additional information, please email jseducation@japansociety.org or call (212) 715-1275