An ongoing feature in which I recommend the work and websites of people who buy me lunch. Today’s entry: Joan Hilty!

Joan Hilty’s been in comics since the bad old days when I worked in the field. Sexism, stupidity, superheroes on steroids - she’s seen it all. But unlike me, Joan’s not a quitter. Not only is she still doing her own comics, she’s also an editor at DC. Over falafel, babaganush, hummus, and homemade pita at Gazala Place, we agreed that alternative comics have improved dramatically in the past two decades, while newspaper strips have somehow slid further into decline (overall - there are always exceptions). Joan and I have run in similar circles for years, and were both recently - but separately - reunited with our mutual friend Roz. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to meet her!

Would YOU like to be featured in Eats for Endorsement? Then buy me dinner. My email address is at the bottom of the middle column, the one with the pictures linking to my movies and cartoons and stuff.

loud thumping techno music will be banned. Also all food will be eaten sitting down, not standing in a crowded room off a teensy disposable plate held in one hand and a drink in the other.

Other than that, I’m having a great time at Tribeca!

Back to our story: we last saw Sita Sings the Blues about to have her North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival:

Friday, April 25, 8:15 pm, AMC Village VII
AMC Village VII (AV7)
66 Third Avenue (at 11th Street)

I’m happy to announce we now have a venue for the premiere afterparty:

Leela Lounge
1 W 3rd St
New York, NY 10012

They’ll make space for us as a group at 10pm onwards, and we’ll order and pay for food and drinks like other customers. They’ll also play “our” music. Yays!

I want to attend an Indian seder this year, but I don’t know any Indian Jews here (although totally secular, I am an Ashkenazi Jew). I also like Indian food. And I have sufficient chutzpah to ask, in public, to be invited to an Indian seder. I’ll bring grape juice!

Remember when I wrote about Stephen Wells? Well I finally had lunch with him last week. Vegan, of course - Stephen is the Executive Director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Over the delicious fried offerings of Red Bamboo we agreed that the only way animal abuse is going to get curbed is by passing and enforcing laws against it. Which the ALDF is doing. I’m not vegan* myself, but even carnivores could (and do) support this work.  Stephen and I also commiserated about this sort of thing - a man after my own heart.

*I’m generally classified as vegetarian, but I occasionally eat sea creatures. In case you want to take me out to lunch (see below).

Would YOU like to be featured in Links for Lunch? Then buy me lunch. My email address is at the bottom of the middle column, the one with the pictures linking to my movies and cartoons and stuff.

An ongoing feature in which I recommend the work and websites of people who buy me lunch. Today’s entry: The Purugganan Lab!

What does animation have to do with genetic biology? Lunch! Yesterday I was treated to pizza at Otto by not only friend and NYU Professor Michael Purugganan, but also a bunch of Postdoctoral Fellows, Graduate Students, and Technicians who are exploring the The Molecular Evolutionary Ecology of Plant Development, among other genetic biology type things.

Before lunch I got to visit the Purugganan lab itself!

It sure looks science-y, doesn’t it?

I learned some important science things, such as in Europe you can’t just go planting genetically modified plants willy-nilly like we do in the US; that at least one visiting scientist enjoyed and recommends King Corn; and that many scientists are looking to date and marry non-scientists (contact lab for details). I feel more smarter now.

Would YOU like to be featured in Links for Lunch? Then buy me lunch. My email address is at the bottom of the middle column, the one with the pictures linking to my movies and cartoons and stuff.

Oh my I had a wonderful time in my former stomping grounds, the San Francisco Bay Area. Many friends attended the Sita Sings the Blues preview and responded most enthusiastically. I saw beloved old friends, made some new ones, and ate the most delicious food on Earth. More to come - but for now, I just want to say Thank You.

An ongoing feature in which I recommend the work and websites of people who buy me dinner. Today’s entry: Ross Kiester!

I met Ross Kiester at the Platform Animation Festival in Portland, OR, where his two brilliant and charming teenage daughters impressed me with their impeccable taste (they’re fans of the Stork). Last week Ross was in New York doing…well, all kinds of things. For not only is he a mathematician into discreet global grids, but he’s also a turtle conservationist. The latter is how he knows Eric Goode of the Maritime Hotel - turns out he’s a turtle conservationist too. Those turtle conservationists form a tight community, which is why fellow turtle conservationist Maurice Rodrigues is the manager of the Maritime’s various enterprises, including Matsuri, where we enjoyed a lavish and delicious Japanese meal followed by French fusion pastries. My oh my that was tasty. Also joining were Ross’ niece Elizabeth Azen and her husband Ramuntxo, both accomplished graphic designers. Conversation focused on Basque cuisine (Ramuntxo and Elizabeth are experienced connoisseurs), Japanese cuisine, alcohol (for once I wasn’t the only person at the table who just doesn’t like the taste), West vs. East Coasts, and of course, turtles. On that subject I was surely the most ignorant person there, but I did suggest a three-word name for their organization - the Global Turtle Initiative.

These cheesy flash photos don’t do anyone justice, alas.

Ramuntxo and Elizabeth compare sushi to Basque food.

Maurice: yes to turtles, no to booze.

Would YOU like to be featured in Eats for Endorsement? Then buy me dinner. My email address is at the bottom of the middle column, the one with the pictures linking to my movies and cartoons and stuff.

Go see this movie. If you’re in New York, you can catch it at Cinema Village this week. If you’re not in New York, ask your local rep house to get it.

Go! I’m not just saying this because I grew up in corn country.