Adrian Nicole LeBlanc at the Harman Center

Posted on March 23, 2011 by rc111646

Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Harman Writer-In-Residence,

spoke of her work in progress on comedy clubs and read from her excellent ‘Random Family‘, before a gathering of faculty and students at Baruch’s Harman Center on March 22, 2011.

She is a writer of intensity and passion, who depicts and transforms a small truth into a facet of simple and striking reality. Her writerly qualities are in evidence in ‘Random Family’, which spent 10 years writing.

Now LeBlanc’s keen eye is focused on comedy clubs, for she sees an existential link between the young standup comedian and the marginalized Bronx youth in her book. Hers is an interesting conceit, yet one questions its social value.

Posted in Independent Film | 3 Comments

Sweaty Comedians and Teen Moms

Posted on March 23, 2011 by alazebnik

On March 22, 2011, Adrian Leblanc, author of “Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble and Coming of Age in the Bronx,” had a reading at the Newman Library Conference Room. This reading dealt with both Random Family and her newest investigation in stand-up comedy.  “Stand-up comedy is similar to journalism. It takes time to find your voice,” says Leblanc. It took her ten years to find her true voice in completing Random Family and she remained resolute throughout the process, which is very inspiring. Leblanc, this spring’s Harman-In- Residence, took many questions from the audience of enthusiastic fans, students, and professors. “I think I am a genuine person,” says Leblanc. Her genuineness is evident in the way she takes every investigation.  She puts herself in every situation that may come her way, which is refreshing.  I found the experience very insightful and I hope to read her future work.

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LeBlanc shares her voice

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Sabrina

While it seems to take journalist Adrian Nicole LeBlanc years to write a nonfiction novel, it only takes her minutes to warm up to a group and talk about it.

Much like the stand up comedians she’s currently interviewing for her upcoming book, this spring’s Harman Writer- in- Residence stood up at the podium last night and simultaneously entertained and imparted words of wisdom to her attentive audience. In a friendly and casual tone, LeBlanc read from her first book, Random Family, and her work in progress,  and answered a series of curious inquiries afterward.

Her response to one question was that, both writing and comedy is like “a long apprenticeship. It takes a long time to find your voice.”

It’s clearly the case that LeBlanc has long found hers.

Posted in LeBlanc Talk | 4 Comments

It Comes With Experience

Posted on March 23, 2011 by dospino

Adrian Nicole LeBlanc speaks long winded and inspired, as if giving an informal lecture, even when answering simple questions about faking laughter at a comedy club. At a rate of one analogy per train of thought, she conjures up images like “preparing a meal” to discuss an author’s involvement with their subject. She trolls advice in the form of personal experience, not to belittle but in a sincere attempt to manifest ideas honestly and unscripted. Last night there was no script, nothing written down but short excerpts from her books; a conversation where the other person knows more than you and you sit and pick apart every word to understand how to get there.

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Adrian Nicole LeBlanc: The World Through Open Eyes

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Sherese Francis

Who would have thought that Adrian Nicole LeBlanc with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a masters in law would go on to write about a range of people from teenage prostitutes and drug-dealers to stand-up comedians. At her reading last night, I learned that LeBlanc is a great writer because of her ability to not only be present with others, but to be also present with herself. She is also a great observer in her capacity to spotlight what seems to be the most mundane of moments or people. As LeBlanc said, her purpose as a journalist is to “stretch what you know about the world.”

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Health Inspection Grades Put the “F” in FDA

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Laura Rossi

Sample grading form

There is nothing more distracting than craving a juicy, succulent, amazing burger in the middle of the day. When you want a burger, you really can’t think of anything else. You get up and decide to go to your usual favorite spot and can’t help but notice a sign on the window. “Sanitary Inspection: Grade Pending.” “Okay, cool.” You think to yourself but as you continue to go back, you realize the sign hasn’t changed. You’d figure that after about a month, their results would be up but they’re not. Two months pass, the same signs still there. It is then when you realize that that your favorite burger joint might never put its results up, which leads you to question…why?

What started in 2010 in southern California has made its way to NYC. The FDA has implemented a food-safety grading system which has the sole purpose of making sure restaurants provide safe food and service to its customers. Now, this is only fair, considering in a city like New York where there is a restaurant (or five) on every block, definitely putting a “subtle” influence on New Yorkers to go out and eat at least once or twice a week.

The least a restaurant can promise its customers is a benign and health-conscious environment. Instead, restaurants make such an effort to hide their disturbing sanitary truths by not posting their true grades.

This grading system holds a lot of bias towards particular restaurants though. Don’t get me wrong, places like McDonalds and Burger King are happy to rave about their A scores. This is because of the all fast food places are meant to follow a certain set of microbial standards. These standards happen to be incredibly easy to follow, with examples such as setting meat temperatures above 160 degrees and using pasteurized milk, my own kitchen could pass them.

Not only that, but then one has to take into consideration the more “high end” restaurants in the city. I mean, they should also be just thrilled about this new grading policy, correct? Not quite…

The way how the grading system works can be seen in the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Principles and Application Guidelines. These set of rules are a lot more rigorous than those of fast food chains, leading to more atomicity from the restaurants end. Though the guidelines seem never ending, the Food and Drug Administration also allows restaurants who get a C or D to put up their grade pending sign and get re-evaluated again months later.

This whole ordeal with grading restaurants has caused nothing but controversy within the food industry. It really is all a matter of who you are willing to trust. Some consumers have taken it upon themselves to dive deep into the dirty laundry of restaurant culture. Dont Eat At, an app developed by a current NYU student, provides a simple analysis of the restaurant of your choice and tells you whether or not they are at risk of being closed down due to health code violations.

Moral of the story: I think I am going to re-evaluate my favorite burger place, with its favorite “Grade Pending” sign in the window.

Posted in Food Rant / love song | 2 Comments

Adrian LeBlanc, A Masterful Writer and Speaker

Posted on March 23, 2011 by ying

At exactly 5:45 PM in the Newman Conference Center on the seventh floor of the library building, Professor Bernstein began with her own Twiku, titled after Baruch’s slogan, “Baruch Means Business,” with a twist on the actual meaning behind the slogan. Soon afterwards, Professor Hallowell took the stage to introduce Adrian Nicole LeBlanc and began immediately by describing the silence he encountered from his students upon their completion of her journalistic, non-fiction novel, Random Family, that required over ten, jaw-dropping, tenuous years of reporting to complete.

Currently, I am in her Harman Writers-in-Residence class, and one of the required readings is her book, Random Family. I remember finishing her novel the moment I purchased it in the beginning of the year, and yes, it is an AMAZING book. But still, her vocalized reading animated the plot, making it really come alive. Hearing her voice, her humor, her journalistic approaches, and the connections she finds between stand-up comedians and journalists was both enlightening as well as enrapturing. Though I had to go home earlier before the reading ended to finish writing my creative non-fiction piece for her class, I stayed til the end because I couldn’t peel myself away from my seat.

Posted in LeBlanc Talk | 2 Comments

Harman-In-Residence Writer Gives More Than Comic Relief

Posted on March 22, 2011 by jerrica.williams

LeBlanc speaking at her reading event.

As Adrian LeBlanc took the podium, I had but one thought: where on earth can I get some more of those delicious chocolate chip cookies from the reception? To say the least, I was incurious about anything she was about to discuss. Yet, as she began to read from her book Random Family, I was completely enticed. I was so engrossed in the passages that I was now thinking: Where on earth can I get this book? This is no ordinary event for me. In the simplest and most embarrassing terms, unless it is for an assignment that I am annoyingly forced to do, I don’t read (unless it’s a magazine of course). But for some reason, LeBlanc captured me. Her wit and charm only added to my interest in learning more about Jessica and Coco. “I think I’m generally a genuine person, whatever that means,” she said jokingly. Not only do I find her genuine, I find her truly inspirational for the amount of work she put into creating Random Family.

Posted in Independent Film | 3 Comments

Good Food, Good Talk – A Reading With Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Elsa

Adrian Nicole LeBlanc spoke inspiringly about her work to a crowd of eager listeners at Baruch College.

This Tuesday afternoon the Newman Conference Center at Baruch College got filled with listening ears and questioning voices. It was time for the annual Sidney Harman Writer-In Residence event, an opportunity for students and others interested to hear a guest speaker talk about her or his work. This time the stage was given to Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, nonfiction writer and author of the critically acclaimed book “Random Family,” now working on a new project about stand-up comedy.

My only prior experience of a book reading happened unplanned, when i was studying in a book store. I wondered why a microphone was set up next to me, and soon I got my answer. Frustrated over the abrupt ending of my study-session, I walked out without even concidering staying and listening to the author speak.

It was therefore with no expectaions I stepped into the Conference Center, and got my first positive surprise in form of tasty snacks. The athmospere was surprisingly good to be after  5 PM on a school day, and I do believe the free food deserves some credit for this. Even if the reading was not going to last more than a rough 1,5 hours, some extra energy would definitely not hurt the ability to concentrate.

LeBlanc herself charmed with a relaxed attitude and a passion for her work. Despite some minor issues like hearing the questions asked by the audience, I enjoyed my first real reading. And to a person hoping to have a future in journalism, LeBlanc’s talk was definitely an inspiring experience.

Posted in LeBlanc Talk | 1 Comment

Can I Have a Cheeseburger Without the Cheese?

Posted on March 22, 2011 by alazebnik

Am I the only the person who does not like cheeseburgers? Why does everyone insist on ordering it only? I like variety. I enjoy variety.  As a well-nourished person, I like and enjoy variety in my meals. Why take a menu or why even order in the first place if you’re just going to eat the same thing over again?

I am a man, who likes his burgers. I believe that the cheese ruins the taste of the most important aspect of a hamburger, the beef. Whether I use Angus or a piece of ground meat, I consider myself an expert in this delicious craft. One may call me a George Foreman Grill technician.  Do not expect this technician to use any ketchup!

A well done 9oz hamburger from Kool Bloo, 221 East 23rd Street, New York

Adding ketchup to a burger is like adding makeup to a woman. Does ketchup make the Burger taste better? Does makeup make a woman look better? Did I just compare hamburgers to women? In my opinion a good hamburger, just like a good women, is hard to come by.

McDonald’s burgers are made out of plastic.  Burger King’s burgers are elastic.  Wendy’s burgers look Jurassic. Not all burgers are created equally. There are places where quality out rules quantity.

What you can expect in Burger Bistro

Burger Bistro is where fancy burgers meet casual prices. This burger establishment joins many gourmet restaurants on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. What separates this small and cozy restaurant from the others is that anyone can customize their meal in any way they want. This customization does not only include how you want the meat cooked. From caramelized onions to guacamole, one may add any topping on their menu.  Even if you’re crazy to like cheese on your burger, do not expect to only have American cheese on their menu. One may put chesses such as: gouda, asiago, pepper jack, and etc. The quality was great and the portion size was just right.  I had a well-done burger on whole-wheat buns with Portobello mushrooms and peppers.  It was great.  I love to eat hamburgers but just do not put cheese and ketchup on it.

Posted in Independent Film | 15 Comments