Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Food Criticizing the critic
Posted by Matthew Schniper on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 12:58 PM
In last week's Indy Bites Guide, I offered you this brief rundown of general criteria we use when heading out for food reviews, in hopes that readers will post more of their own restaurant reviews on our Web site.
Yesterday, our copy editor, Kirsten Akens, sent me a Columbia Journalism Review article titled "Everyone Eats ... But that doesn't make you a restaurant critic."
I thought I'd pass it along for those who intend to start dishing opinions, or just for those who'll eat up just about anything on the subject. It goes way more in depth than I previously had the space to and looks back at the history of the modern American review, credited to New York Times critic Craig Claiborne.
There were several passages by author Robert Sietsema that I found myself wanting to highlight (thankfully, I've kicked my expensive habit of drawing on my computer monitor), but if you read nothing else, I recommend skipping to the bottom for Sietsema's artful conclusion:
More than ever, diners could use a reliable critical guide. But where once there were a few dependable voices who reviewed restaurants based on a common set of professional standards and strategies, there is now a digital free-for-all. As with many things on the Web, this profusion of voices is often touted as a wondrous blow for democracy, a long-overdue rising up of the masses against the elitist overlords of the culinary realm. Thus the runaway popularity of sites like Chowhound and Yelp, which publishes city-specific reviews by anyone who cares to weigh in on everything from restaurants to churches, and whose motto is “Real People. Real Reviews.” I’m all for everyone having his or her say, but when it comes to cultural criticism there is a strong case to be made for professionalism and expertise. As the eminent film critic Richard Schickel wrote in 2007, in response to a New York Times article on the decline of professional book-reviewing and the rise of review-bloggers: “Criticism—and its humble cousin, reviewing—is not a democratic activity. It is, or should be, an elite enterprise, ideally undertaken by individuals who bring something to the party beyond their hasty, instinctive opinions . . . . It is work that requires disciplined taste, historical and theoretical knowledge and a fairly deep sense of the author’s (or filmmaker’s or painter’s) entire body of work, among other qualities.”Craig Claiborne, and those who followed him, lifted the restaurant review out of the realm of marketing and made it a public service—a job defined by professional standards and expertise. Today, despite whatever benefits come with the every-man-a-critic ethos, we are in danger of losing that public service.
Other key aspects missing from my cursory critic's criteria rundown: the issues of anonymity, freebies and general conflict of interest, all of which are covered in Sietsema's piece.
Local News Council considers camping ordinance at 1 p.m.
Posted by J. Adrian Stanley on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 11:49 AM
City Council will take public comments today on a proposed ordinance that would ban camping on city property.
The meeting is at City Hall in City Council chambers and begins at 1 p.m. A large and vocal turnout is expected. If passed, the new ordinance would outlaw the homeless camps that have sprung up along creek beds.
Naysayers say the ordinance is an attempt to outlaw homelessness. Advocates, however, say the ordinance has been thought through and would be enforced with compassion. Campers would initially be given a warning, informed of shelter accommodations, and told to move within 48 hours. If they fail to move, they would be ticketed. The law would not be enforced if all shelters were full.
Local News Got 'em covered
Posted by Pam Zubeck on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Pat yourself on the back: Your help made a local drive to gather tents for Haiti in the earthquake's aftermath a success. The city says the Colorado Springs Fire Department and American Medical Response have received more than 225 tents.
God's Littlest Angels, a local Christian ministry that runs an orphanage in Haiti, had been trying to get a good deal on tents, but got nowhere. When a representative from the orphanage saw stories on the AMR/firefighter drive, assisted by Big Five sports, she contacted the city and bought an additional 200 tents using the Big Five discount deal.
"This extraordinary community effort will provide much needed shelter, security and identity to over 1,600 persons who are just now beginning to re-build their lives," the city said in a press release.
The tents will be distributed through Caring House Project, an organization that's worked in Haiti for more than 10 years.
Entertainment 2010: Year of the furry shoe
Posted by Edie Adelstein on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 8:42 AM
2010 marks the year of the tiger (of the animal, not Woods, variety) according to the Chinese zodiac. And what better way to celebrate the big cat's iconic power than by sporting tiger-inspired shoes.
Nike has designed a limited-edition set of kicks with nylon fur, some golden-hued stripes and red detailing.
Anything more would be far too gaudy, naturally.
- Nike
- Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 14. Get your Chewbacca shoes today.
If I didn't love shoes by principle, the Nike Year of the Tiger Classic Cortez might be the most heinous pair I've ever seen, but I gotta love something with the so-bad-it's-good appeal.
- Nike
- Here they don't look quite so furry.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Economy Driving power bills down
Posted by Pam Zubeck on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 9:40 PM
Showing energy users how much their neighbors consume has been proven effective in getting people to conserve, USA Today reported recently. It says 25 utility companies tell customers how their usage compares to those around them, which leads to a 2 percent to 3 percent savings.
Colorado Springs Utilities considered the idea several years ago, but decided not to do it, concluding that its other programs are more sustainable. "Programs like the one described in the article rely more on customers changing their behavior and less on efficiency upgrades," Utilities spokesman Dave Grossman writes in an e-mail.
Utilities' rebates for installing energy-efficient fixtures and appliances provide a quantifiable, long-term savings, he says. In 2009, demand management rebate programs reduced electric use by an estimated 20 million kilowatt hours (enough power for 2,800 homes for a year) and 305,800 MCF (enough natural gas to supply 4,200 homes for a year), Grossman notes. These are annual savings, meaning that customers will reduce their usage each year for the life of the fixture/appliance.
Other strategies include conservation advice, tips, classes, demonstrations and online energy audits to help customers reduce their usage. Customers realize savings from these tools, but the savings are more difficult to quantify.
In addition, the city-owned utility added graphs to customer bills that show average daily usage for electricity, natural gas and water going back 13 months, so customers can track it all.
One chief goal in reducing load is to put off building another coal-fired plant, which is sure to get more analysis this year as Utilities once again sets long-term goals for energy management.
Breaking News / Elections / County Gov / Politics Sheriff changes his mind
Posted by Pam Zubeck on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 5:50 PM
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa announced Monday evening, surrounded by dozens of supporters in blowing snow and icy temperatures, that he's "back in it" for the 2010 election.
Maketa announced on Jan. 20 he wouldn't seek a third term allowed him under a voter-approved measure that allowed the sheriff to serve 12 years instead of limiting him to eight.
After several people spoke, including former Undersheriff Teri Goodall, jail commander Paula Presley and local business leader Terry Storm, Maketa said he would re-enter the fray, which already has two Republicans who had hoped to succeed him. They are former deputy Todd Evans and Monument Police Chief Jake Shirk. No word on whether they will now back out.
Chanting "four more years," the crowd huddled outside Maketa's Costilla Street office before the announcement, cheering him to "just say yes."
"The last week and a half I've been inundated with calls, e-mails, people stop me wherever I go," he said.
"It really caused me to take a step back and think about it." He told the crowd, which included an array of elected officials including Commissioners Amy Lathen and Wayne Williams, their urging "sends a powerful message."
Maketa did not say why he initially said he wouldn't seek another term out of deference to his family who wanted to spend more time with him and now will go another round.
"There's something to be said for public service," he said. "I'm back in it."
Politics A speck of blue, and a whole lot of red
Posted by Anthony Lane on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 4:20 PM
Though El Paso County has close to two registered Republicans for every Democrat, the numbers look up for Dems in some parts of the county. Take House District 18, for instance, which covers a swath of central Colorado Springs leading west through Manitou Springs: The numbers worked out there for Michael Merrifield, a Democrat, to win four terms in the state House. Merrifield is now trying to keep his political career going by grabbing a seat on the Board of County Commissioners representing District 5, a competitive area covering northern and central Colorado Springs.
The natural flipside, however, is that in other parts of the county, Democrats face odds even tougher than 2 to 1. Which is why it's a surprise hearing Democrat Steve Kjonaas talk about his prospects as he runs for County Commission District 5, which starts around Chapel Hills Mall and leads north.
- Registration numbers, schmegistration numbers: Steve Kjonaas.
"It's absolutely about winning," the retired Air Force firefighter says. (You can find the beginnings of a Web site for Kjonaas here.)
That could be tough, given a Republican-to-Democrat ratio in that district of more than 3-to-1 (44,798 Republicans to 12,682 Democrats). His likely opponent will be City Councilor Darryl Glenn, who enjoys a solid base of support in the GOP.
Local News FREX rises from the dead (again)
Posted by J. Adrian Stanley on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 1:53 PM
Well, this has been a wild ride.
It began with a tough announcement: The FrontRange Express, a popular bus route between Colorado Springs and Denver, would stop running in 2010 due to budget problems.
And then, our leaders changed their minds. Instead of shutting down the service, a few of the FREX buses would be sold to pay for service costs through the end of this year. The Colorado Department of Transportation, which owns an 80 percent share of the buses, was cool with the plan, and the city, which owns the other 20 percent, had given its preliminary blessing.
Looked good.
And then, the buses didn't sell. So, once again, FREX was going the way of the dodo on Feb. 12.
But wait, the city decided to try the bid process again. This time, York County Transportation Authority in Pennsylvania bought nine buses for a total of $1.44M, an average of $160K per bus! And now, assuming City Council gives its consent, FREX will be running at least through December.
You know, assuming nothing else changes.
Music Singing Valentines
Posted by Edie Adelstein on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 12:59 PM
In a past life, Valentine's Day for me meant the biggest week of the year. I worked at a romantic restaurant back then, and for the whole week surrounding V-Day the books were packed, 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. It was nothing but a giant marathon, as anyone else in the business will tell you.
After a few years, I hated Valentine's. (Mind you, it was never as bad as Mother's Day). When I quit, the following year's Valentine's came and went like any other random day. It was great, like skipping-school-great.
I'm still riding that wave of relief, and will tell you with pleasure about one option that will keep you away from irritable servers this coming week. Both the Velvet Hills Show Chorus and the America the Beautiful barbershop chorus are offering Singing Valentines between Feb. 12 and 14. They'll show up to serenade your beloved at a place of your choosing, or sing over the phone.
Both local choral groups require reservations for these Valen-grams, and the earlier the better to order one. For more on Velvet Hills (all women), call 632-9130; on ATB (all men), call 442-0864 or visit their Web site, atbchorus.com.
- FFFFOUND!
- Valentine's Day: It's a state of mind.
Music In living color
Posted by Matthew Schniper on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 12:00 PM
So ... we got this e-mail from Anne Lenoir promoting her show with John Wise at the Dale Street Café this past Saturday night. Problem is, we didn't get it until 2:30 the day of the show, on a day we aren't in office — too late to do anything, unfortunately.
Can anyone else in attendance possibly confirm the light show?
Music Music Monday: Midlake
Posted by Bill Forman on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 10:54 AM
The Courage of Others
Bella Union
Buy if you like: The Czars, Fleet Foxes, In the Court of the Crimson King
What a difference an album makes (and, in this case, the four years it took to record and release it). Midlake’s third collection finds the Denton, Texas, band tapping into a sound that British art-rock bands once favored, back before the rise of prog messed it all up. Echoes of Fairport Convention’s “Sloth” and King Crimson’s “Epitaph” infiltrate gorgeously melodic tracks like “Acts of Man” and “Small Mountain.” Tim Smith’s singing has settled into an easy baritone that recalls Richard Sinclair (of Canterbury scene stalwarts Caravan and Hatfield & the North), its depth and resonance reflected throughout all aspects of what’s easily Midlake’s best album. After radically changing its sound and approach twice now, Midlake (who, as evidenced by the photo at right, got onboard the animal head bandwagon early on) is garnering massive critical raves that might finally translate into actual sales, and this record deserves it. Future reinvention is no longer necessary, or even advisable.
Here's a clip of "Acts of Man," which a fan set to creepy footage from a 1927 Murnau film:
Entertainment Those Tebow commercials
Posted by Ralph Routon on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 9:47 AM
It's midway through the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIV, and time for a break in the action. There's a spot for Snickers that's good for a laugh, the kind that distracts you briefly as the next commercial begins.
If you're like me, you see an unfamiliar woman on the screen with a white background, but you're really still thinking about that Snickers ad.
Then, about 12-15 seconds into it, you realize: Hey, this must be Pam Tebow, talking about her son Tim, the Florida quarterback, in the much-ballyhooed Focus on the Family commercial. About that time a flying form knocks Pam Tebow out of view ... until mother and son re-emerge with a lighthearted, harmless joke.
If you're like me, and you never saw it or missed most of it, try this:
The final shot simply gives the Focus online site and encourages viewers to go there.
That's it. All that controversy, and at least $2.5 million, for what? An ad that, for many unprepared viewers, surely got lost in the shuffle, not to mention being overshadowed by Snickers.
Didn't even see the pregame ad, which didn't include the flying tackle. Here it is:
But hey, the game was worth watching.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Food Your menu is out to get you
Posted by Matthew Schniper on Sun, Feb 7, 2010 at 1:38 PM
A friend sent me this New York Times article this morning — fair warning, it's more than a month old, but I'd missed reading it — about menu psychology.
Writer Sarah Kershaw discusses restaurant tactics like naming dishes after family members, leaving out dollar signs next to prices (9 instead of $9) and strategically placing pricey items to make other plates appear as a bargain.
- Dave Plunkert
I'm sure many people haven't picked up on this clever marketing, and while reading the article, I paused several times to think about local outfits' menus.
So I thought I'd throw it out as a general query: Has anyone encountered a local menu that really made them feel manipulated, or managed to hide the true cost really well? And are you the type person easily swayed by something as simple as font size in menu design or charming dish names?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Sports Party like a Cheesehead right-to-lifer
Posted by Kirk Woundy on Sat, Feb 6, 2010 at 4:42 PM
In a story in today's Gazette, Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger claimed amazement over the national-level furor regarding Focus' Tim-Tebow Super Bowl ad: “We had no clue that this would become the most talked about ad for the Super Bowl."
If you believe that, I've got a full-color cutout Tim Tebow mask to give you before tomorrow's game. Oh, wait, actually, thanks to Wisconsin Right to Life ...
From a press release:
To demonstrate support for the message of an issue ad to be aired during Sunday’s CBS broadcast of the Super Bowl, a Wisconsin pro-life group is urging spectators at the game and viewers at home to wear a Tim Tebow mask to show their appreciation for life and strong family values. ...Tim Tebow’s life matters,” exclaimed Barbara Lyons, Executive Director of Wisconsin Right to Life. “And we can all have a little fun and show the public that Tim and his Mom and Dad are an inspiration to all of us.”
Awesome! Just keep the salsa off his eye black.
Sports Super Bowl patrol
Posted by Pam Zubeck on Sat, Feb 6, 2010 at 11:18 AM
The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints and all those Super Bowl ticketholders in Miami on Sunday can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that fighter jets will be circling the Sun Life Stadium to make sure the only bombs are those thrown by quarterbacks.
It's one of many events protected by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, based at Peterson Air Force Base.
"Special events like this world-renowned sporting event take precise coordination with all mission partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FAA and local law enforcement," Air Force Maj. Gen. Garry Dean, a NORAD commander, says in a press release.
In preparation for the Super Bowl, the FAA will impose a temporary flight restriction over the greater Miami area. Air Force fighters will be on patrol, and Customs and Border Protection also will fly during the event.
