Monthly Archives: May 2012

(Community Matters)

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(Community Matters) Hannah Tomlinson – we’re here celebrating her high school graduation. What started as an intimate trip evolved into a family reunion for Carol & Phil’s immediate family. We’re having a blast

Staying on île de la Cité, a great big apartment w/ a nice kitchen at the Pont Saint Michel. Enjoyed cooking dinner in our first night, all huddled in the kitchen eating, laughing, drinking and catching up. Hannah, Carol, Phil, Hilary, Delise, Craig, Steven and me. Today to Montmarte, the Paris flea market, and of course lunch at Chez Eugene.

Last night Eiffel Tower – my first time to the top during night.

(Community Matters) Three days, four shows – that’s how Steven rolls in London; I made three.

Misterman (at the Royal National Theatre): Steven saw this in matinee. A one-man play about grief & loneliness. Steven noted some good parts but maybe they didn’t all come together.

Detroit (at the Royal National Theatre): Steven knows playwright Lisa D’Amour from playwriting courses at UT. She was a student of David Marc Cohen. Steppenwolf first presented Detroit. Raw & honest characters who had conversations outside my increasingly rarefied bubble – made me mindful of this. Major career coup to have her show presented at the National; Broadway appears to be in negotiation.

Collaborators (at the Royal National Theatre): a fun and fantastical play about Josef Stalin and the writer MIkhail Bulgakov.  They just don’t miss on the acting and staging at RNT.

Tenet (at the Gate Theatre); loved entering the theatre while offered tea & biscuits. The show was fun. More opportunities than seized to promote how the truth is achievable with a little radicalism.

(Community Matters) Minimalist food – the place would easily fit in Marfa, though I can’t imagine the challenges of sourcing.  Next to Spitalfields Market, it was my & Steven’s first time to St John Bread & Wine, the more casual cousin of St John Bar & Restaurant.  Playwright Lisa D’Amour and her boyfriend composer & new york theater company founder Brendan Connelly (Two-Headed Calf) met us. 

Cauliflower, Chickpeas & Leeks; Globe Artichoke Vinaigrette; Brown Shrimp Salad; Mussels, Cider & Tarrago; and a Barley Rabbit – we shared. Felt like a traditional English theme but one doesn’t think of traditional English as so well seasoned & spiced. We’ll definitely be back – it’s up there with Amoul’s as one of our favorite London lunch spots. (of course we had lunch at Amoul’s yesterday)

(Community Matters) on the way to celebrate our niece’s (Hanah Tomlinson) graduation from high school in Paris, we decided on a few days of theater. Thursday: Misterman (matinee), then the preview of Austinite Lisa D’Amour’s  new play, Detroit. Friday: John Hodge’s Collaborators, and tonight: Tenet (the story about the revolutionary politics of telling the truth). This evening, after a 2 hour conference call – an MPR board meeting. Hate missing but we set date to coincide with Spring Fundraiser and  celebration for Marianne Stockebrand and I’d already committed to this trip.

We always have the best time traveling together

(Community Matters) Fascinating admonishment from a GOP pollster to the party – “advising Republican candidates to emphasize the conservative nature of gay marriage, to say how it encourages personal responsibility, commitment, stability and family values.”

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(Community Matters) I happened to take a picture of Waller Creek in our neighborhood park the day we left. Last night, Micah King sent me a picture after yesterday’s rains

(Community Matters) President Obama coming out for marriage equality is the cherry on top of his support for LGBT equality. He’s already done more for LGBT equality than every other president combined . . . times 2.

This is beyond unifying, it’s electrifying. It shows – once again –  Pres Obama continues to put right above politics. I don’t believe it’s coincidental that he decided to grant the ABC interview the day after hate and discrimination won in North Carolina. And, fortunately, I don’t believe anyone who might vote for President Obama might not because he supports equality for all Americans. As to the intensity of those motivated against his reelection . . . regrettably, it exists already.

My friend Hilary Rosen tweeted on of my favorite quotes, “it’s about families, not politics.”

President Obama has long said LGBT Americans deserve constitutional equality. His statement in support of same sex marriage clarifies that he believes all responsibilities *and* rights granted to heterosexual couples should be available to LGBT Americans.

Because of my role as Pres/CEO of two National Public Radio affiliate stations, I cannot endorse, raise for or donate to political campaigns. I resigned as national co-chair of President Obama’s LGBT Council effective Jan 1. He remains a friend for whom I have extraordinary admiration and appreciation. Posted from London

Washington Post

Talking Points Memo

(Community Matters)    20,304 . . .

20,304 children registered for Lemonade Day Austin 2012. Last year, 13,008 registered, 16,780 hosted stands, raising $291k and donating $151k to charity.

Leigh Christie and her team are rock stars! We’ll survey participants this summer for $s raised, total # kids, $s contributed.

Lemonade Day sparks entrepreneurship in youth. We offer a curriculum (designed as fun book for kids & their adult sponsor) which introduces the terms and concepts of revenues, planning, budgeting, expenses, marketing . . .

(Community Matters) One of the highlights of the last few years is making so many friends in New York, including these two who are so committed to changing the world – their profile in the New York Times. Steven and I are looking forward to celebrating their wedding with them at the end of June.

(Community Matters) Terribly inappropriate in some ways but as to getting across an important message to sexually actives teens and adults, I think quite effective