Self-deprecation is the new confidence.

My silly piece of nothing about boats was on NPR's Day to Day yesterday. You can stream it here.

On Tree Grates

All along 51st street, where Rockefeller Center is, are tree grates like the one right below this post. I'm guessing John J. wanted everything to fit into his Art Deco sensibilities.

A tree grate like this one, I believe, is a seized opportunity for urban decoration and is there to protect the possibly exposed roots of a tree from foot traffic and cigarette butts and general contamination. Maybe it is also there to keep tree liberators from digging the poor city tree up from 51st street in New York City and bringing it to a restful, shady place that a tree actually has business being in.

City to City to City

Before I move on to Chicago (where I am), here's where I've been: tree grate, lonely Jewish boy at the MoMA, delicious white pizza in the park, the goddamn subway at three a.m., and Boston at night.