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Deride the buffet no longer; I have experienced the cathedral of all buffet restaurants here in Manhattan. It’s called “Minado,” located near Korea Town (around 32nd and Broadway.) It’s a seafood-only restaurant, with the exception of dessert. The restaurant does brisk business, with customers lined up for 30-40 yards. You begin at the sushi section, and as you progress down the line foods become boiled, then grilled, then finally deep-fried (tempura).

We walked through Chelsea, the West Village, SoHo, and Tribeca, past Ground Zero, finally arriving back at out apartment.  It was a great opportunity to see the various sections of New York City and get not only a sense of where everything is, but also what distinguishing characteristics each section possesses. 

I had waited, like so many others, for the arrival of warm weather and hoped that this weekend would prove spring was finally on her way to stay. To my chagrin, the sky was not as clear and wind not as friendly as I had hoped.  However, the streets were speckled with people who were out braving the rain and the clouds. With the hints of brightness in their clothes and determined smiles upon their faces, it seemed that Spring would be forced to show up eventually if she didn’t want to miss her own party.

Back in New York, life seems more familiar, with the crowds more pronounced, the pace a little absurd at times, the options endless, and the sushi – well, the sushi is definitely just better.  I also haven’t seen and New Yorkers sitting on in lawn chairs on Fifth Avenue watching hotrods. It boggles my mind sometimes that this country can be so different. To see it, all you have to do is hop on a plane.

On Sunday morning my roommate and I attended Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick on 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st streets.  Walking up to the church, I was reminded of past holidays with my family when, on trips to New York City, we would join the hordes of other tourists that flocked to the enormous cathedral, beautifully decorated with Christmas garlands and poinsettias.  On Sunday, however, I walked up the stairs as a New Yorker – at least a temporary one.

Ever wonder what happened to that Doogie Howser kid? No need to lose sleep over it anymore, because I am happy to report he is back with a vengeance off-Broadway in Assassins, which I attended a preview showing of this weekend.

Cornell University psychology professor Timothy DeVoogd spoke at Hamilton College on April 5 about his research on brain plasticity in birds and bird learning, comprehension and singing. The departments of biology and psychology sponsored the lecture.

During March and April, works from Music Professor Sam Pellman's recent CD, Selected Planets (innova 597) aired on Syracuse classic radio station and NPR-affiliate WCNY on the program "Fresh Ink." Works presented on this program in March were "Vaporis Congeries Magnae Uranus)," "Neptune Flyby" and "Dancing in the Dark (Pluto)" and "Perelandra (Venus)." On April 2, Pellman's "Perijove (Jupiter)" aired as well.

Alan Cafruny, Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Affairs, presented a paper, "A Coming Crisis of the EURO? Transatlantic Subordination and Social Contradictions of the EMU" at the International Studies Association (ISA) annual convention. The conference titled "Hegemony and its Discontents" was held in Montreal, March 17-20.  The ISA promotes research and education about international affairs and is the most widely known scholarly association in this field.

I had a mission as I hopped on the subway stop at City Hall. It was Monday and instead of assisting with arraignments in court, I had been reassigned to find and copy court files from the Bronx Criminal Court on 161st Street. Sometimes you’ve got to entertain yourself by assuming that a small task you're assigned is really an important mission.  Such is the delicate balance of interning.