Yesterday, I got an email from the Marc Landis campaign asking for volunteers at a public forum with Congressman Jerry Nadler on preventing gun violence. The event was tonight. It was enlightening to learn by just how much gun deaths in America dwarf those in other countries. The UK has less than 20 gun deaths a year, Germany has less than 200, and – you may want to sit down for this – the U.S. has more than 10,500! Most don’t even garner headlines because our society has come to accept such gasping stats as normal.

Given the scope of gun violence in our country, it’s that much more disconcerting that the Manchin-Toomey amendment to expand background checks for gun buyers failed to pass the Senate in mid-April. The good news is that the senators plan to bring the bill up for a vote again before the August break. And given that the approval rating of 5 senators who voted against the bill has plummeted, there is hope that the second vote will pass.

Also speaking at tonight’s event was Mark Barden who lost his 7-year-old Daniel in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. This was not only the highlight of the evening for me, but it was a real honor. The grief was apparent in Mark’s voice, but so were his strength and compassion. He described how Daniel always liked to help others. If he saw someone sitting by themselves, he would go to them so they wouldn’t be alone. “The young man who killed my son was the kid who sat alone,” Mark said with no trace of resentment, making the point that it’s important to reach out and help others. Mark and his family set up the What Would Daniel Do? website – like it on Facebook and be inspired by this little boy.

Like so many other Americans, Mark is disappointed by the Senate vote, but he’s not discouraged. Even though some of the senators who voted against the bill were the same ones who had listened to Mark’s stories about Daniel and cried with him, he was clear that this is not the time to shame them, but to support them so they can vote for the bill in the future. “Gun violence is a human issue, not a partisan one,” said Mark. He also made the point that in an effort to not alienate potential supporters, we should change the terms of the discussion from one about “gun control” to one about “gun safety”, because that’s what the discussion is about at this stage.

To support Mark and other gun safety advocates, it’s important that we continue to educate ourselves on the issue and take action. Even if your representatives support the Manchin-Toomey bill and other safety measures, continue to write to them to voice your approval. Congressman Nadler made a good point that representatives like him have many issues to focus on. Hearing from their constituents on issues important to them – even if it’s just to say we agree with you – will help ensure those issues stay top of mind.

Tonight’s forum was informative, moving and inspirational. Many thanks to Congressman Nadler, Mark Barden and the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue social action committee who organized the event.

My short story The Leap was recently published in WordHaus and I shamelessly promoted it by sending the link to all of my family and close friends. Arienne suggested we go out to celebrate. So on Thursday, she, Matt and I met up at Wine 30. What a cute place. It was a good thing Arienne had made reservations because it was packed at 6:30. The tables are set very close to each other, but as soon as the food and wine arrive, you forget about the close quarters.

The menu is quite extensive, especially for a wine bar. We had a hard time deciding what to order because everything looked so good, but I think we chose well. Here’s what we had:

Garlic-Ginger Shrimp with Cilantro-Lime Dipping Sauce – MUST HAVE: each shrimp is perfectly charred and full of so much flavor that you don’t even need to dip it in the sauce. But save the dip because it may complement other dishes, like the Spicy Beef Sausage Lollipops. 

Zucchini Pancakes  with Cucumber-Dill Yogurt – MUST HAVE: we ordered this dish because I really wanted the cucumber-dill yogurt, but the zucchini pancakes were a standout on their own. I could have eaten all three by myself – they were so light and tasty.

My boss Mike was in town from Boston on Monday night along with Victoria, another colleague from London, so we decided to meet up for dinner. Sacha, our head of HR who recently moved to Brooklyn, asked that we pick a restaurant near the Times Square area to make her trip home easier.

I was put in charge of picking the place and I was in the mood for steak. I was going to suggest we go to Delmonico’s Kitchen until a Google search told me that Strip House, my all time favorite steak place, recently opened a Midtown location on West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th).

Steak lovers have lots of great options in New York and it’s not easy to pick a favorite. So what sets the Strip House apart for me? The decor and the fact that they serve a whole roasted garlic with each steak. The decor of the Midtown location is not quite as burlesque-themed as the 12th Street location. The lighting is not quite as dim and as red, and there are no plush couches at the entrance. But the roasted garlic remains intact.

We were offered an amuse bouche of sweet potato soup that was a real treat.

I then had the Chopped Salad, which was delicious and refreshing. I typically get a Ceaser salad when I have steak, but going forward, I’m sticking with the Chopped Salad at Strip House.

Then came the piece de resistance – the 16 oz New York Strip, cooked black and blue. Perfection!

The group decided to finish off the evening with the warm double chocolate brownie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce. I was pretty full but I managed to take a bite – it was decadently divine.

Salmon tastes great simply baked in the oven, but if you’re looking for the “wow” factor, give this Tandoori Salmon recipe a try. It was a huge hit at my cousin Sharie’s dinner party for her husband’s birthday. “I didn’t realize it would be such a crowd pleaser,” Sharie confessed. She didn’t get a chance to take a picture before serving it, and it pretty must disappeared as soon as it was served! Also try Sharie’s Chuck Roast - another big hit at the party.

Serves 8-10 people

Ingredients:

1 large salmon fillet (about 2.5 lbs)

Tandoori paste (brand I used is “patak’s”) – use 3/4 jar

1 small container Fage yogurt

1 tbs grated fresh ginger

4 tbs fresh lemon juice

3 tbs olive oil

Sliced lemon wedges for garnish

Directions:

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix marinade: tandoori paste, yogurt, ginger, olive oil, lemon juice

Spread marinade on salmon (use as much as you like- cover salmon but do not coat too thickly)

Bake salmon in the oven for 30 minutes or until cooked through

Transfer the salmon to your serving dish and garnish with sliced lemon wedges

My cousin Sharie hosted a dinner party for 30 people to celebrate her husband’s birthday on Saturday night. I was in Florida visiting my parents so I missed the party, but the dinner was a such a hit that Sharie is sharing two of her favorite recipes from the evening’s menu. Here is Sharie’s Chuck Roast recipe. Also try her Tandoori Salmon. I hope you enjoy these as much as Sharie’s guests did!

Serves 8

Ingredients:

4 lb chuck roast (marble, with some fat for more tenderness and flavor)

1 large can diced tomatoes

Half bottle of red wine

3 sprigs rosemary

3 sprigs thyme

2 large onions – thinly sliced

6 cloves of garlic – chopped

Salt & pepper for seasoning to taste

Directions:

1. Sear the meat on all sides in a large pan over med-high heat

2. Remove the meat and put it aside

3. Saute the onions and garlic for about 15-20 mins in same pot that you seared the meat so you have the meat juices

4. Return the meat to the pot with onions and garlic

5. Add the entire can of diced tomatoes with juice, half bottle of red wine, herbs, salt and pepper

6. Cook on med-high heat for about 10-15 minute

7. Lower heat to low and slow cook for about 5 hrs, stirring occasionally

8. Remove the rosemary and thyme sprigs and transfer the meat with the juices to your serving plate. Dig in!

Here is a picture of the chuck roast, one hour into the cooking time:

It was my last corporate duty. My days as a titan of business were about to be behind me, and I was going out with a bang. I had sold my business for enough millions to retire upstate, and I had sold it to none other than Walter Rigford, arguably the most infamous name in private equity. This was the day of the handover. My management team was joining Walter’s profitable empire. They were excited, the access to Walter making them feel like titans in their own right.

My team consisted of six men and Nancy. Walter had recommended Nancy to me when I mentioned I needed a chief marketing officer.  This was months before he approached me about a possible acquisition. Nancy was a petite brunette with a giant personality. She had great ideas that made our products fun and exciting. She was smart and easy on the eyes. I couldn’t understand why she was still single at forty.

On the morning of the handover, we were all driven to Walter’s office in Stanford. Walter and his CFO greeted us in the boardroom. Everyone was in a celebratory mood. In the back of the room, a chef was waiting to make our eggs to order. Next to the chef was another man clad in a white shirt and black jacket, ready to juice the fruits and vegetables of our choice. A third man stood near the bread and cheese stand, presumably to serve us. And there was a fourth man standing off to the side, handing out plates and cutlery.

Breakfast in hand, we took a seat at the long mahogany table. Walter sat at the head of the table, facing the back of the room where the servers were dismantling their cooking equipment. Walter’s CFO sat to his right and I sat to his left. Walter cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention.  He started to stand up.

“Thank you all for making the drive to Stanford today…”

“Get down”, a man interrupted him from the back of the room. “On your knees assholes,” he ordered. “Get on your fucking knees or take a bullet in the kneecap.”

The four men in white shirts and black jackets, the same ones who had just made and served our breakfast, surrounded the conference table. They were armed with multiple rifles and guns. Walter ducked under the table. His CFO threw himself on top of him. The rest of us scrambled to our knees. All of us except Rob, our head of sales. I don’t know what made him just stand there. He was the father of three kids. I couldn’t see his face because I was already on my knees, under the table, my heart beating fast and loud.

“You wanna be a tough guy, motherfucker?” someone yelled from the other side of the table, the side that Rob was standing on. Legs rushed towards Rob. He stood still, his own legs planted in a fighting stance. Then Rob was on the ground, clutching his stomach. The butt of the rifle came down on his head. I heard the crack. The CFO gasped. Blood flooded Rob’s face, drowning his features. The faces of my two boys and my wife flashed before me. Nancy stood up. I wanted to pull her back down, but she was on the other side of the table.

She picked up a chair. “You’re fucking with the wrong crowd,” she shouted running towards the man beating Rob. There was a gunshot. My heart dropped. I expected to see Nancy fall to the ground. I heard a loud thump, but the noise came from behind me. I turned around. The assassin on my side of the table was sprawled on his back with a bullet hole in his forehead. A thin red line was winding down the ridge of his nose.

Another gunshot. I turned back in Nancy’s direction. A second man in a black jacket was on the ground. Nancy slid under the table, pulling the dying man with her. She removed his ammunition belt, slung his rifle across her shoulder, tucked one handgun inside her right boot, and held the other gun in her hand. Her actions were almost a blur, her hands moved so fast. Still under the table, she dove towards Walter, gliding with her arms straight in front of her, the gun in one hand. Just before her head peeked out from under the table, she rolled on to her back.

I saw the flashes before I heard the pops. She shoved the CFO aside and pushed Walter under the table before she disappeared from my view. Walter crawled towards me. He gave me a slight nod. Whatever was happening, Walter was in on it. I didn’t know whether to feel reassured or betrayed. We had known each other a long time.

“You fucking cunt,” a man yelled. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

I heard a slap. Nancy was thrown to the ground, where Walter used to be. His CFO inched away from her. He huddled next to the leg of the table, eyes closed, unable to witness the violence next to him. An iron rod hit the ground. It barely missed Nancy’s head. It went up and came down again. Nancy squirmed quickly from side to side, escaping the blows. I closed my eyes for a second, not wanting to see the worst.

When I opened them again, the rod was in Nancy’s hand. The man wielding it above her was on his knees, wincing in pain. Nancy was also on her knees, catching her breadth. Suddenly she leaped over the man crouched in pain. A storm of bullets followed. The noise was deafening. The man’s body convulsed with each hit. I couldn’t see Nancy behind him. When the bullets stopped, only the man’s body was visible. He was awkwardly propped against the couch behind him.

The man standing – the only one of them left standing – inched closer to the bullet-riddled body. He tapped it with the tip of his shoe. Then he rolled it over with his foot. I held my breadth. Walter put a hand on my shoulder, moving closer for a better view. No one was behind the dead man. Nancy had vanished. I felt Walter’s sigh on my neck.

“Come out you fucking cunt,” the man bellowed. “Come out NOW.”

The room fell silent. There was no movement. My kneeling colleagues were dispersed around the edges of the table. We all looked at one another, eyes wide with a mix of fear and bewilderment. Gone was the bravado with which we had started our day. We were scared and vulnerable, two things we thought we had left behind as part of our transformation from mere men to titans.

There were no signs of the slim legs in the tight black pants tucked inside the black boots. It occurred to me then that Nancy had chosen an unusually casual outfit for her meeting with a private equity tycoon who now was also her boss.

“I’m going to count to three,” the assailant resumed in a more measured tone, “If you don’t show me your fucking face by the time I’m done counting, I’m gonna start killing.”

“ONE.”

He paced, his shoes hitting the floor with a loud tap.

“TWO.”

There was an audible collective inhale from all of us. Then a loud boom. The assailant’s face exploded. He dropped to his knees and fell forward on his face – half of which was now missing. Nancy reappeared then from under the couch, her finger still on the trigger of the rifle. She had been perching along the underside of the couch. How she had held herself there is still a mystery to me.

“Everyone ok?” She asked, looking at Walter.

Walter’s CFO grabbed a gun from the floor. “I’m sorry Walter,” he cried, holding the gun to his head. He pulled the trigger before anyone could stop him. Turns out he owed millions in gambling debt. This kidnapping had been his desperate attempt to collect a ransom from the Rigford estate. Walter had been on to him for months. Nancy had been Walter’s secret weapon – a killer for hire who could morph into any role.

Nancy left us soon after the police arrived. I didn’t expect to ever see her again, though I’ve thought about her often. But just yesterday I received an invitation to an art gallery opening in New York. Walter is listed as a co-owner along with a woman named Calista. There is a picture of the two of them on the invitation. Either Nancy has a twin sister or she is Calista. The hair and make-up are different, but the face is the same. I plan to attend, curious to see if this is another cover for Nancy the killer, or if she has changed her name to suit a new career. Fittingly, the inaugural exhibit is called “Curiosity”. I just hope it doesn’t kill this cat.

In 2010, when the MoMA showcased Marina Abramovic’s The Artist is Present, I didn’t know much about performance art. I didn’t understand why so many people were lining up just to sit across from Marina. The point was lost on me. Then last year, I saw the HBO documentary: Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present. I finally understood why the performance had garnered so much attention, and why Marina’s work is so important.

I also realized how much discipline and stamina – both physical and mental – such performances require. They are an exchange of energy. The focus of the artist in turn focuses the participants to be totally present in the moment, and to fully experience the art with all of their senses. The emotional reactions of the individuals who sat across from Marina were poignant and powerful.

I was inspired by Marina – by her willpower and her confidence. I went to see her at Time Talks on Friday. The conversation was riveting. Marina explained that she always knew she wanted to be an artist: ”What is your purpose when you’re born…you have this urge to create.”

She started out painting and then expanded to other forms. In her teens, living in Belgrade, she recorded her modified voice. The recording, which she played in a cafe, commanded all passengers of the Belgrade Airlines to go to gate 345 for their flight destined for Bangkok and Honolulu. The Belgrade airport only had three gates at the time and no one was jetting off to such exotic destinations, but through her recording, everyone in the cafe was transplanted to this imaginary trip. That’s the power of performance art.

But Marina stressed that there is no substitute for first-hand experiences. For example, similar to the flight announcement, a book can transport the reader to a place and time, but the experience is temporary. Once the book is finished, the place and time don’t linger and affect the person the way that only a first-hand experience can. To this end, and because “it’s very important to have a legacy…something that others can benefit,” Marina is starting the Marina Abramovic Institute in Hudson, New York.

“I like to create a platform where people can experiment,” Marina explained. With technology and everything else that attracts (or distracts) our attention, “we have no space in our mind to receive new ideas…the Institute is a form of reprogramming.” The Institute will not be a place for a casual visit. It will require a six-hour commitment. “You give me time, I give you experiences,” said Marina. It will be time well spent – check out Marina’s video on the Institute website which explains her mission. To realize her lofty goals takes money. Marina and her team are raising funds for the Institute from fans of her work. If you would like to contribute, instructions are on the site.

Much of Marina’s work and her quest to change the world have originated from her own suffering. When asked by Patti Cohen, who was interviewing Marina at the Times Talks event, if it was possible for happy people to be artists, Marina responded that when you’re happy, you don’t need to create for the purpose of balancing your world. “Happy people can create happy art,” she said, “but it won’t change the world.”

Patti also asked about Marina’s choice to not have children. “In our own body, we only have one kind of energy,” Marina responded. And for her, that energy propelled her to be an artist, not a mother. “If you choose one thing, go for it all the way.”  This correlated with a point she had made earlier in the evening:  being a “good artist is huge sacrifice.”

During the audience Q&A, someone asked how artists can overcome their doubts about their own work. When you’re feeling bad about your art, “go deeper in the black hole,” Marina recommended. “Going down to see what is causing the darkness is important.” I thought this was especially good advice since many of us often fight the darkness, afraid to succumb to it. It makes sense that by purposely giving into it, we can better understand and address it.

Marina Abramovic is one of the most interesting artists and personas of our time. I’ve already marked my calendar for December, when Robert Wilson’s “The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic” will be staged at The Armory in New York. This operatic theatre will be making its North American debut in June at the Luminato Festival in Toronto.

I especially admire Marina Abramovic’s steadfast belief in the quality and importance of her work. As she stated at the Times Talks event, “if you say no to me, it’s just the beginning.” That’s the mantra of a confident and strong-willed woman, and why I find her so inspiring.

My friend Michelle and I went to a comedy club tonight – we had bought our tickets during a late-night excursion through Time Square last weekend. We were seated with a mom and her 23-year old son from Ohio (the bouncer who doubled as the evening’s MC clarified the relationship during his opening monologue).

Like the bouncer slash comedian MC, I wondered what a 23-year-old from Ohio was doing in a New York comedy show with his mother. He was a good looking kid with a sweet smile. She looked much younger than her probable age, a smile brightening her face throughout the show. They laughed at most of the jokes, his laughter more audible than most, but it may have just seemed that way to me since we were seated so close to each other.

When the comedy show was over, I asked what had brought them to New York. She made some remarks unrelated to my question about how they were enjoying their time in the city, and about how much her  son liked to drive in New York. I told them I was glad they were having fun and asked again why they were here. “He’s being deployed in a month.” My heart sank. He smiled his sweet smile. I wanted to cry, seeing grave danger in this young man’s future.

I asked where he was being deployed to, expecting to hear a Middle East destination. Much to my surprise, he said Africa, though he didn’t know exactly where he would end up. I had no idea we were even deploying troops to Africa. I assumed he would be going to Mali, given the rise of Islamists in the region, but I didn’t want to ask if that was a probability. This was meant to be a fun night out for him and his mom. I figured the reality of his deployment must weigh heavily on his family every day. No point dwelling on it during their vacation.

I gave the sweet boy a big hug and thanked him for protecting our country. He assured me he would be okay and he flashed his sweet smile again.

I couldn’t hold back tears walking home. I was overwhelmed thinking about this mother watching her young son set off to the other side of the world, not knowing with any certainty if he would return. And I wondered how he would fare so far away from his family and his country. At the same time, I was grateful for him and others like him who are willing to take such risks to protect our country and our way of life.

Fortunately, it turns out that this young man is not headed for combat. According to Army Times, “roughly 3,000 soldiers — and likely more — are expected to serve tours across the continent in 2013, training foreign militaries and aiding locals…[they] will live and work among Africans in safe communities approved by the U.S. government.” It’s a relief.

Still, the encounter with this mother and son from Ohio gave me a better understanding of the sacrifices that our troops and their families make to serve our country. Thank you! They are in large part why America is the “home of the brave.”

Michelle, Traci and I met for dinner at Gallo Nero last night before Michelle and I headed to an 80s dance party meetup. The restaurant is small, but very charming and cozy. Reservations are recommended, especially if you’re planning to go there during prime time. There’s not a lot of space to just hang out if you have to wait. The rock-n-roll type music is a bit of an odd choice given the ambiance, but that touch of the unexpected actually engaged my sense of hearing. I don’t know that I would have even noticed the music otherwise.

Though the restaurant is small, the menu is pretty big with lots of choices. And the staff is super friendly. Best of all, everything – from the food to the wine – is reasonably priced.

I started with the ceasar salad which was tasty and creamy. But I still prefer the ceasar at Bocca di Bacco because of the fresh anchovies. I’m surprised by how many restaurants don’t consider anchovy fillets a key ingredient of a ceasar.

I have been craving spaghetti carbonara for months so I ordered Gallo Nero’s spaghetti alla carbonara. It is fantastic. If you’re a carbonara fan, this is a must-have. The texture is creamy and every bite is full of flavor. I just wish there were more pieces of chopped green onions because that additional layer of flavor packs a real tasty punch. The portion size is very generous. As delicious as the dish is, I couldn’t finish all of it.

If you’re looking for tasty Italian that doesn’t break the bank, check out Gallo Nero. It’s a great date spot and perfect for pre-theater dining.

As involved as I get with presidential elections, I have typically been delinquent getting involved in local campaigns. That’s about to change, thanks to my neighbors who hosted an open house tonight with Marc Landis, one of six City Council candidates representing the Upper West Side (6th Council District).

The event prompted me to research the candidates. Looking at their websites, it’s not easy to differentiate them based on issues  - they all want what’s best for the Upper West Side, but what stood out to me about Marc was his message that this is a “community campaign.” Marc’s first message on his homepage is that “a seat on the City Council is not the property of the person who is elected to it; it belongs to YOU! The legislative branch of government is where all of our voices must be heard, not only as campaign activists, but also as partners in governance.” All of the other candidates only talk about themselves on their website.

When I called Marc’s campaign office to confirm the apartment where the open house was being hosted, he called me back himself. Unfortunately, I wasn’t home to take the call, but I appreciated the personal voicemail. At the open house, Marc reiterated his message about the community campaign so now I know it wasn’t just some clever positioning for his website. Finally! A candidate who walks the walk when it comes to “a government of the people, for the people by the people” – President Lincoln’s quote that’s prominently displayed on the City Council website.

By the time of the open house, I had high expectations and Marc did not disappoint. He was asked questions about a broad range of topics, from affordable housing and saving local businesses to improving education and better policing of bike lanes. Marc was well versed on all issues and proposed some clever solutions. Marc impressed me with his out-of-the-box ideas. He was also honest that some of his ideas may be difficult to implement. Difficult or not,  they’re good ideas worth exploring.

With primary elections slated for September, I will continue to watch all the candidates and attend the forums and debates being scheduled. But it will take a lot to sway me away from Marc Landis. His message of community campaign, his knowledge of the issues and his original ideas will be tough to beat. Thank you again to my neighbors for introducing us to such a standout candidate.