I'm in Chicago this morning getting ready to travel back to NY. If you haven't been here you're missing out on one of the great cities in America.   It's big but spread out over a wide area along Lake Michigan. And there's a river running through it.   After a great dinner at a place called the Kitchen, I walked along the river back to my hotel. It was cold but picturesque with gleaming office buildings and fascinating architecture. The Riverwalk was opened a few years ago a...

Grand Central Terminal was totally cleared out for a romantic date.   The married couple, Macy and Spencer Wise, in the image won a contest to have an early Valentine's dinner from a Michelin-rated restaurant at the empty Terminal with live music.   Quite an experience don't you think? It was sponsored by the MTA and they even received a SWAG bag afterwards.   I'm wondering what this guy is going to do next year......

Two people can have the same exact experience but walk away with totally different feelings.   Think about the last time you went to a movie with a friend or a loved one. Or maybe had a meal together or witnessed an event. Did you feel the same afterwards? Maybe one person just acquiesced and agreed with the other so as not to cause conflict.   It’s fascinating to me, especially when I'm teaching. My class is always filled with an assortment of people from a variety of backgr...

As we are getting ourselves ready for the big game tomorrow here are some fun facts you may want to share with your friends (whichever kind you are with:)...   • Did you know you can make a bet on how many times J.Lo will change her outfit in her 10 minute peformance? (I bet 3)   • The Super Bowl I halftime show consisted of two marching bands, acclaimed trumpeter Al Hirt, two men in jet packs, and 300 pigeons.   • This is the first Super Bowl appearance for the Chiefs in 50 ...

On the surface it might seem to be an easy answer...however there are always two sides to an issue (and sometimes three:). Following are some points I gleaned from debate.org.    For: Education is vital and maybe the source for hope in the future Education improves humanity and preserves the planet There is still more technology and discoveries to be made Against People won't value a free education Free education will cause havoc Who would pay for all the expenses   BTW, ...

This year is shaping up to be rather contenscious, so I’d like to remind us that it is more important than ever to listen and tolerate the differences that make Gotham such a unique place that inspires connections, business, opportunity and lively conversation.   Although we may differ in our opinions, I would submit that we always be respectful and accepting of your brothers and sisters no matter what their feelings and thoughts. Even if your blood starts to boil, focusing o...

Fred's blog a week ago inspired quite a bit of comments. Some of them were very passionate about their beliefs on current events. This caused me to think about truth and what it really means. I've learned that there can be two types of truth...empircal and convenient.   Empirical truth is based on evidence, research and reason. It is the truth that scientists seek. It is the truth that people seek when they want to achieve predictable results.   Empirical truth is hard ...

As is tradition, I offer my predicttions for the coming year. Just as a reminder, here's my record since 2007:   2007 - 1 for 7. (my rookie year:)2008 - 1 for 1 (gutsy picking one but it was spot on)2009 - 3 for 5 2010 - 2 for 32011 - 3 for 3!!! 2012 - 3 for 3!!!2013 I took a break, the launch of the new website took all my attention2014 - 2 for 32015 - 0 for 3, bad year but came close on the stock market2016 - 2 for 4 2017/18 I took a sabbatical2019 - 1 for 4   Since 2007 I...

If you've got about 6 and a half minutes, I recommend watching this video from the American Museum of Natural History documenting human population through time.   If you don't, look at roughly the last 2 and half minutes. Start at 4:10 and watch the impact of modern technology and medicine on the growth of human population.   Click here to see it on YouTube   There are a lot of us now. I wonder if they want to join Gotham :)...

I had the distinct privilege of having dinner last night with my book club at Tiro a Segno, the oldest Italian organization in the United States (1888).   It was unique experience having a gun range in the basement where patrons can eat their main course, go shoot (.22 rifle, single bolt) and come back for coffee and cake.   The food was delicious and the conversation illuminating as we discussed Tony Celano's new book "Two in the trunk."   On the ride back, we discussed how...