One Is A Lonely Number

Sometimes when I have to work late and no one is around I get the willies. The willies are something like the creeps. I am alone with my thoughts, which always get steered to "Why am I still working so hard at 58?" The answer is always the same: "I spend a lot of money and I have to keep the cash flowing." That is what I say when I am feeling sorry for myself. When I get past that I realize that without work, I would probably have no identity. But my identity is nothing compared to Cindy Adams and Liz Smith, both in their '80s. I am not anywhere near as famous, talented and driven. What makes these dames tick? Everyday, like mailmen, they deliver their columns filled with new and fascinating material. Day after day, year after year, they have been alive with copy. I like to think about them and then I don't feel so lonely at the computer when everyone else is asleep. Maybe if I work harder, I can be just like them at 80-plus.

The Kitchen at The Gilt...

Guest Writer
Tara M. O'Donnell
Corporate Communications Senior Manager
Samsung Electronics North America HQ



Stephen O'Donnell Surrounded By The Gilt Chefs


My husband built the kitchen at The Gilt and that’s the only way we would have even considered going there for dinner. We’re simple folk. I’m from the suburbs of NYC and I love food but spent most of my childhood eating liver. And my husband Stephen is from Donegal, Ireland. He’s a real mountain man who hadn’t tried most ethnic foods until about 5 years ago. Stephen’s company, JBS, has been working on the kitchen at The Gilt for a while, which is located in the former Le Cirque 2000 space in the Palace Hotel. Every night for months I heard about how Chef Paul, an Englishman with a sense of humor but a stubborn streak, fought with the hotel chef over where spice racks and pots should be hung. But until a few weeks ago, when I read the New York Times food review about The Gilt, I had no idea that Chef Paul was Paul Liebrandt, an infamous artist in the world of cooking. When we arrived, the very elegant setting made us feel a bit like two fish out of water. But the servers were overwhelmingly hospitable and it wasn’t long before we were settling in and sipping champagne. The Maitre’d suggested the tasting menu which sounded like the best way to experience the restaurant. There was something that Frank Bruni wrote in his NY Times article that came to mind as soon as the first course was served. He wrote that one of his dinner companions said, “I feel like I'm in my first class of organic chemistry." I felt like the servers were speaking Greek. Every new dish that came out was a surprise, even after the server carefully explained what it was. My husband doesn’t eat fish so that was a tricky obstacle for the kitchen to overcome. I think they truly earned their keep that night since they couldn’t give him the set tasting dishes found on the menu. They were very inventive….substituting beats for salmon and offering quail instead of sole. When I saw the size of the first dish, I expected to leave the restaurant and head straight to a pizza place. But, I was pleasantly surprised by my full stomach when I left. They paired each dish with the appropriate wine. That was amazing. But when they poured the first glass, or drop, my reaction was the same as the food. I won’t even get tipsy from these drops of wine. But, after several drops, I felt warm and cozy. My favorite dishes turned out to be food that I normally would never eat and in some cases, don’t even like. There was a small shell fish appetizer with one diver scallop and a craw fish that had peas on the side. The shell fish were tasty but the peas, which were infused with cilantro (I think), were delicious. I haven’t eaten peas in 20 years. There was a delicious foie gras served with bread and truffle butter. It melted in my mouth. I also really enjoyed the hare which when the server described , didn’t sound all that good, but it tasted wonderful. My husband really enjoyed the veal short sweetbreads. I was glad he didn’t know or ask what sweetbreads actually are. Talking about bread, the bread was to die for. There were many types infused with different ingredients such as chestnuts, olives and ham. As with anything, there are always a few items that didn’t impress me. The first appetizer was a poached quail egg with a thin, crisp slice of chorizo. It tasted a bit like taking a bite of a bacon and egg sandwich but the texture turned me off. A sorbet made of wasabi, green apples and salt was served before the main course. I wasn’t a fan. But I suppose it was just there to clean our palates, and it did the job. Overall the experience was an extraordinary one. We go out a lot but not to places like The Gilt. It was a little more formal than I would normally like (every time you go to the rest room, they “serve” you a new napkin with two forks – as if it were bread) but it was a rare treat for us to get to experience such a place. One of the best parts of the evening was getting to meet the team of hard working sous-chefs that put all of these intricate dishes together. My husband spends most of his days in the kitchen of The Gilt but he was amazed at how it transformed in the evening when all of the masters are at work. I would recommend checking out The Gilt for a very special occasion. But consider who you invite. It’s not a place my parents would have enjoyed. They would have felt gypped by the small portions and large price tag.

News about the state of Gov. George Pataki gives me the willies

Forty-one years ago, my cousin Eddie Guskind died of peritonitis. He was 32 years old. I have been watching the reports about our Governor and I am starting to get a little nervous. His hospital stay keeps getting longer and longer. Patients who usually have an appendectomy are out of the hospital in two or three days. The last time I saw the Governor on TV from his hospital bed he looked very pasty, drawn, sickly and weak.

Once peritonitis sets in anything can happen. From what I can remember, my cousin complained one weekend of a stomach ache, and went to his doctor twice. Each time the doctor gave him medicine and told him to go home to rest. When the pain become intolerable, his young wife (who is my first cousin) rushed him to the hospital only to find out that his appendix burst and this horrible poison set in. Irene was a few years younger than Eddie, had a daughter who was just three and was several months pregnant.

Eddie died three days later. The family went nuts. The funeral was horrible and my cousin Irene was in shock for many years. She gave birth to a son, named him after his father and now my little cousin Eddie (41 years old) is married, the father of two fabulous sons, but has to be somewhat haunted that he never met his father.

We all are. How can this happen? Now turn the clock to today and I am watching this horror unfold again. This time to a political figure who has all the wherewithal, the money and the power not to let this happen. I truly believe Gov Pataki will be okay, but at this point I am sure the doctors are freaking because this serious infection can run amok.

I am picturing Gov Pataki standing next to then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the World Trade Center turmoil. He looked like the pillar of strength. I can't wait to see him like that again.

Lois in the Far East - Part 1

Hello from the South Asian Seas. I am aboard one of the ships in the Oceania Cruise Line -- the Nautica -- sailing from Singapore to Hong Kong with stops in Cambodia, Bangkok, Saigon, Hanoi and Canton. This is the first time in 29 years of business that I dared to be physically away from the office for so long. The “what will be, will be” attitude was involuntarily casted on me after several close friends and dear family members died all too early in 2004-2005. The final straw was losing my mother last June. Still trying to put the pieces together after that.

I fear airplanes and boats so naturally my husband Eliot and I, along with two friends, Ruth and Howard Greenberg, decided to fly 24 hours to our first destination, Singapore, spend a few days and then board the ship. Most people on the cruise are 60 plus. While at first I thought I entered Del Boca Vista (Seinfeld’s parents condo in Boca Raton), it turns out that this crowd defines the new meaning of Active Adults. I imagine that most of the 450 people aboard the ship are very accomplished, and I would love to know what they do. I will probably find out more as the days go by. Most of the passengers are from the west coast of United States, a big group from Ft. Lauderdale, and lots from England, Australia and Canada.

I am just starting to get used to not being on email 24/7. I am paying 60 cents a minute for email so I am typing fast. I also have an expensive satellite phone with me so if you hear from me I will be talking fast.

I want to write often because I would like some of my impression logged somewhere so I guess this blog is the best place. My next installment will be my thoughts about the journey here and my impressions of Singapore. We stayed at the Singapore Oriental for four days before cruising so I am going to go backwards before I go forward. The story of my life.

A Conversation With Steve Madden

Even if I had planned to interview the famed shoe designer, circumstances couldn’t have worked out better. We were sitting at a Starbucks kiosk right outside a Steve Madden store in Aventura Mall in North Miami Beach, FL. I looked up and there he was. You can’t miss him. He wears the same thing all the time -- baseball hat, white shirt and jeans.

I watched as he ordered his coffee, and then paced while sipping, blowing the hot drink. A fancy cell phone constantly glued to his ear. My husband questioned whether it was really he. I was confident that it was; I had seen his photo many times before.

As he walked by I waved a hearty hello letting him know he we were big fans. While I only own one pair of Steve Madden shoes, I felt a kinship. He, a famous designer. Me, a publicist always in search of famous people.

The minute he saw my hand go up, he came over to say hello. By this time my daughter who was shopping nearby joined us. It was a real celeb spotting experience.

Lois: “What are you doing here?”

Steve: “Visiting my mother in Boca.”

Lois: “Are you checking out your store here?”

Steve: “Not really. I leave that up to others. That doesn’t mean that I'm not always looking, thinking.”

Lois: “Yes, I saw you walk into Nine West across the way to check it out.”

Steve: “You can’t break old habits."

Lois: “Their current collection is shit. I was in there too.”

Steve: “I agree, they've had better.”

Lois: “So what have you been up to lately?”

Steve: “You know that I've been away for a while. Just got out seven months ago. I'm enjoying myself. I just got engaged. Going to get married January 15th in New York City."

He told me where, but I won't reveal till after the wedding.

Lois: “Is she Jewish?”

Steve: “No, a real shiksa. I am like Larry David and she is my Cheryl Hines.”

Lois: “Is your mother upset that you're marrying out of your religion?”

Steve: “No, I'm 48 years old. This is my first marriage. My mother and everyone else thought I was gay. I just couldn’t find anyone.”

Lois: “Where do you live?”

Steve: “The Upper East Side in a townhouse. I used to live in the Village on Mercer for almost 30 years, but my fiancée really likes the Upper East Side.”

Lois: “Is she after you for your money?”

Steve: “No, we've known each other for years. She's an office manager for Steve Madden. She's busy shopping right now. I expect her here any minute.”

Lois: “That is so funny. I would expect you with a girl who shops on Madison Avenue.”

Steve: “That is what is so great about her. She's comfortable shopping here, she's comfortable on Madison Avenue. Where do you work?”

Lois: "On 58th and Sixth.”

Steve: “My office is two blocks away on Sixth.”

Lois: “Here is my card. Maybe I can help you someday.”

Steve: “We use PMK.”

Lois: “They’re great. Oh well, if you ever need PR for something else related to cause marketing, charity work or anything extra, please call me.”

Steve: “Thanks. I'll be in touch.”

I feel like I am back in the dating game. I want him to call!

Made in USA, Exported to China

Julie Gaynin, daughter of HWH PR Executive Karen Gaynin, worked at our PR agency for a few weeks this summer. Julie is a Senior at Stuyvesant High School and spent last summer traveling in China. Since HWH is very involved in promoting many Asian products and services, I thought it would be interesting to read about Julie’s travels and her perceptions. Americans everywhere are reading Ted Fishman’s book, China Inc. and corporations/organizations are paying big bucks to hear him speak. We give you Julie Gaynin first hand for free.




Lois Whitman: Why did you decide to go to China?

Julie Gaynin: For a while now I have had a growing interest in the “Asian world.” I spent the summer before my Junior year of high school traveling in China and this past year (Junior year) I became very involved with a program called the “Chinatown Literacy Project,” a free ESL class for Chinese immigrants. Then this past summer, I participated in a series of workshops geared at empowering the youth of the Asian American community in New York City. I didn’t actually intend to get so involved in the Chinese community. It just sort of happened. I guess it began with my father’s business trips to China back when I was in sixth grade. He went on average three times a year and each time he would bring back a heavy load of unusual, not to mention bizarre, gifts accompanied by an equally intangible story. Flash forward to high school when I heard from a friend about a company, “Where There Be Dragons,” that runs teenage-led trips to the Far East. Dragons (as the program is referred to) had one particular trip that took youths across China from the West border to the East, exploring the minority cultures and varying landscapes. As I flipped through the brochure I was immediately interested in a particular trip called “Silk Road” (because it traveled along the ancient Silk Road) and in the Spring of my Sophomore year signed up.


LW: What was the trip all about?

JG: The company took students to developing countries in Asia and South America with the premise that introducing young minds to different cultures leads to a more accepting and peaceful relationship between the two cultures.



LW: How long was the trip and what cities did you visit?

JG: The program lasted for six weeks during the summer. We traveled across China beginning in Kashgar and ending in Beijing. In between we saw Urumqi (capital of Xinjiang Province), Dunhuang (an oasis in the Gobi Desert), Lanzhou (Capital of Gansu Province), Xiahe (a small town in the Greater Tibetan Region), Xining (also a small town in the Greater Tibetan Region, yet more commercialized and exploited than Xiahe), Xian (famous for the Terracotta Soldiers) and Beijing. We traveled mostly by overnight trains, though on a few occasions we took very long bus rides. The idea behind this was that we would travel the way the common Chinese man or woman would travel and thus avoid any contribution to the exploitation that tourism has brought to each area. Almost each of the cities that we visited had some sort of attraction that degraded the city. For example, in Kashgar, peasants drank from the sprinklers on the sliver of grass next to the sidewalk because they did not have running water in their own homes. Another example is the Christmas lights that the Government placed on the rooftops of Buddhist monasteries to anger the monks while Tibetan schools lacked essential learning materials.



LW: Who else was on the trip?

JG: The trip was composed of 12 students from all over the U.S. and three leaders. Our leaders were all college graduates who had an interest in travel or East Asian culture. Two of our leaders were fluent in Mandarin, but by mid-way through the trip they pushed us students to navigate on our own and only translated when we were near death.



LW: What was the most memorable part of the trip?

JG: I liked many of the places we traveled to but had especially fond feelings for Kashgar. The city, which is located in Xinjiang Province, is the western most city in all of China. It was a major stop on the historic ancient Silk Road and is the home of the Sunday Market, the largest outdoor market in the world. Kashgar was both the most exciting and the most difficult place to visit. It was the most exotic and different place I had ever been to as well as the most underdeveloped. Many areas of the city were full of poverty and it was a very difficult experience for me. Another thing about Kashgar is that it has a very defining feel to it. Many of the cities that we visited were large, industrial and unattractive. After a while they began to look the same. Kashgar on the other hand had a very vibrant culture, a mixture of Muslim, Indian and Han Chinese that dates back to its beginnings as a crossroads for travelers on the Silk Road.



LW: What is the most vital message you can tell Americans about China?

JG: The thing about China is that it is not all Lucy Lius and Jackie Chans and most Americans do not know this. Of course much of this naiveté comes from the Chinese themselves. The communist government is very tight on all tourist regulations and very strict about keeping visitors inside of the country’s cities. This way, the country’s heavily suppressed minorities and poor inhabitants are kept a secret from outsiders. It is important to realize that what you see in China, or in the media about China, is not what the country is necessarily like. Many stereotypes are fostered by this misrepresentation and the people of China are severely hurt by it. For example, the AIDS epidemic is growing in China at titanic amounts. However, the government denies the extent to which the disease has spread, which means that international organizations that fight the disease have made little effort, compared to what is needed, and more and more people continue to get infected because of this.



LW: How has this trip changed your life?

JG: The Dragons trip did more than just expose me to a new and different culture. It also taught me how to travel off the beaten path of a country in which I do not know the language (or even the exchange rate). They taught me how to be sensitive to a society’s culture, yet also cautious in regard to my safety and personal possessions (passport!). Most importantly they taught me the best time to use each attitude. I would like to say that going to China made me more knowledgeable on Chinese culture and language. Unfortunately it did not. Not really, no. What it did do though was teach me how to be open to different philosophies and viewpoints and how to keep my cool in overwhelming situations.



LW: Would you ever want to go back?

JG: Kashgar is definitely the first place I would go back to if I had the opportunity. China is modernizing so fast that a place in six months would be different from what it originally looked like. For example, when the SARS epidemic broke out, a major hospital for the disease was built in Beijing in just three days. I’d be curious to see how different each of the cities I visited have changed in five years.



LW: Why should Americans want to visit China?

JG: If you’ve ever been to Chinatown you know that Chinese culture stands out against any Western one. More than just a language, history, philosophy, Chinese culture has simply a different way about it. For example, in New York City, if you are walking down a street and asking for directions you might say “Excuse me, can you please tell me where the bank is?” In China, you would just say “Where’s the bank?” People are not as polite. At hotels they have buckets in the halls where people can spit into because spitting is something that the Chinese do publicly. I personally like this style a lot. It is much more honest and although they are blunt, the Chinese people are extremely friendly in a very sincere way. At the same time, the concept of Face is very important in Chinese culture. Face is about reputation and pride. You would never confess that you made a mistake nor would you tell someone that his or her cooking is awful because then he or she would lose Face with you. To lose Face is one of the worst things that can happen to a person in Chinese society. Of course, China does boast some famous tourist sites; The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, The Terracotta Soldiers, but it is more about visiting a country so different and so powerful.



LW: How will China influence the rest of the world over the next five to 10 years?

JG: In America, we would never believe that our economic success would exist without our Democratic politics. But China proves it doesn’t have to work that way. China’s government is Communist but it has many Capitalist properties. It is industrializing so fast that it literally builds over its past. The Government is very corrupt and it will be interesting to see how it will change as the country becomes more and more economically powerful.

NY Post Andrea Peyser Waits Anxiously For The Michael Jackson Verdict

"I want to go home already," moaned the famous and incredibly witty NY Post columnist to me this afternoon when I called her cell to pitch a story for the Samsung Four Season of Hope gig HWH is involved with this coming Monday night. "I might not make it home this weekend. The jury quits by 2:30pm Pacific Coast Time and there is no indication that they will reach a verdict."



Peyser has been hanging out outside the Santa Maria courtroom all week waiting with thousands of others to find out first hand the fate of the Gloved-One's future. "The crowd is swelling. Everyday more and more fans are showing up. Security is tight and so far everyone is calm. I don’t know what will happen if Michael gets convicted."

Peyser said that everyone is speculating whether the authorities will take him away immediately if he is convicted or he can go home to wait sentencing. "I have said from the beginning that he is not getting totally off."

Unlike most of the crowd waiting, Peyser has an upfront seat in the courtroom to see all the action when the jury come back in. Right now she is hanging out in a coffee shop across the street from the courthouse keeping an eye on the front door.

If the jury returns this afternoon Peyser will attend the Samsung event Monday night. If they don't, blame it on Jackson. He screwed me too.

Torre vs. Me

I just don’t understand how Joe Torre -- a guy who claims he can’t stand confrontations because his father was a mean son-of-a-bitch -- can take these difficult times with George Steinbrenner? I just finished reading a story in the New York Post this morning about how Steinbrenner summoned Torre, General Manager Brian Cashman and Club President Randy Levine to a conference call yesterday because the Yankees have been losing consistently to the Royals, Red Sox and Twins.

Steinbrenner didn’t fire anyone, but he wants answers. If you ever met Torre you know that a meeting like that, even if it is only a telephone conversation, is not going to be his best hour. I have the pleasure of working with him for the Samsung Four Seasons of Hope, a corporate philanthropy program that partners with Torre’s Safe At Home Foundation. HWH has arranged many interviews for Torre promoting the SFSOH cause by talking about the physical and verbal abuse his mother, brothers and sisters endured from Joe’s father.

After 28 years of being in business, I can truly understand the pressure Torre faces now. What I don’t understand is how he copes. I know I freak when a client questions me about strategic decisions, lack of home runs and the way we pitch. And I had the nicest father in the world. What does he say? I wish I could listen to his reasoning, his style, his approach. Maybe I can steal a first base tactic. Steinbrenner must have been ruthless. When reporters questioned Torre about the conversation, all he would say is that The Boss wasn’t happy.

The difference between Torre and I is that he has class all the way. I, on the other hand, become so defensive that I am on the offensive. Let me play out the scenario for you.

Steinbrenner to Torre: “What the hell is going on. You guys are playing like a bunch of third graders. You are losing games to the worst in the league.

Torre to Steinbrenner: “I am not sure what is going on. I can fix the pitching but I am not sure why we are not hitting.”

Lois to Steinbrenner: “How dare you question me. I have been giving you World Series Champions for years. Don’t you ever call my team third graders again. You have no clue what it takes to hit a home run. All you have is a big mouth.”

How long do you think I would last with Steinbrenner? I would have put Billy Martin to shame.

Lockhart Steele visits HWH and is featured in the New York Times

Lockhart Steele, managing editor of Gawker, recently visited HWH PR/New Media to tell us about trends in the industry, blogging do's and don'ts, and the status of blogs as news media.

According to Steele, blogs are fast becoming the PR and marketing tool of choice for savvy companies who want to generate buzz for their product or service. He drew examples from Gawker Media's extensive network of popular blogs to illustrate some of the positives and pitfalls in corporate blogging.

Here are Steele's Do's and Don'ts of Blogging:

DO

• Be brief
  
• Use your own "voice"
  
• Be spontaneous
  
• Link to other blogs
  
• Link to other web content
  
• Comment on other peoples' blogs
  
• Post pictures
  
• Update frequently
  
• Be edgy, interesting and entertaining
  
• Use common sense when deciding whether or not to post information that might be sensitive, defamatory, inflammatory, in poor taste or just plain illegal
  

DON'T

• Over edit
  
• Attempt to publicize your blog by sending an entire entry in a mass e-mail
  
• Ramble on for paragraphs without providing links to other information
  
• Let your blog languish for weeks without posting
  

I promise to start following his guidelines soon...



Steele and his Gawker colleagues are featured in an article about blogging in today's New York Times. See it here.

The Print Stains on My Fingertips are Starting to Fade

I know a big secret. A lot of people know about it, but few are willing to talk. It could throw the entire newspaper and magazine publishing business into turmoil. Here it is: An increasing number of publication houses are making more money from their online versions than from their print editions. The media won’t publicize this story because it could result in the beginning of the end for many print periodicals.

It started happening last year, but really picked up in the fourth quarter when online advertising became more popular, hip, cutting edge, and savvy. Corporate marketers and the advertising world started experimenting with strategically-placed ads on search engines, newspapers, and magazines, and found very high responses. All of a sudden the ability in a digital publication to dynamically place an automobile ad next to editorial about the car industry became very sexy.

The advertising industry has fallen in love with the concept of buying space next to online stories that are associated with their client. For example, if I was the ad agency for General Motors, I could ask the New York Times to place my client’s ad next to any major or minor automobile story in their business section for a certain period of time. That means if any competitor to my client scores an editorial announcement, General Motors is right there, too, reinforcing its message.

This new means of advertising is driving companies with smaller advertising budgets crazy. Every time they manage to get an editorial hit, they can expect their deep pocket advertising competitors to be right next to them reminding the world of their existence. HWH PR/New Media is getting calls from current clients, former clients, and potential ones asking us if we can help them beat the new system. Two days ago, a client that is in the digital signage business issued a major funding press release. The good news was that it got picked up by their hometown’s online newspaper. The sad news was that their major competitor -- who they have been trying to beat to death for years -- magically displayed their multimedia ad right next to the story.

Advertising tricks like this one, plus so many others, are causing online sales to soar like crazy. Plus, a lot of publishers have privately told me that their costs for printing and distribution are at an all-time high and they’re losing more money than they would ever admit. Digital publications cost relatively little to publish, are much timelier (most publications are issuing minute-to-minute online news with the post time so readers immediately know how fresh the story is), and never run out of editorial space. Stories that used to get cut because of editorial space considerations are now prominently listed in a much more current and fashionable style.

Another major element that is causing the print death of certain publications is the ability to use a search engine for information that we all formerly secured from our print informants. I personally am finding it less and less important to get my decorating magazines by mail each month when all I have to do now is Google “minimalist contemporary furniture” and receive thousands of pages of information. Yes, I still like getting the monthlies, but the need is just not as great. A friend of mine used to rely on his monthly computer mags to tell him the hottest trends for his trade. Now he reads everything online and has cancelled his subscriptions.

The digital frontier has certainly changed the lifespan of print. Many of my friends who told me a year ago that they would never read a newspaper online are now turning on their computer in the morning with their first cup of coffee. The minute publications start to figure out a way they can shut down their print versions without signaling a major negative spin on themselves, you will see a lot of empty spaces on the newsstands.