Cooler Weather This Week

The unusually warm weather, we have been enjoying the last few weeks, will come to end this week. A strong cold front will be will be dropping from the north today  Temperatures will falling 40s early tomorrow afternoon into 30s, tomorrow evening. To the left is the NAM weather forecast model. It has temperatures dropping into upper 20s across the area on Monday night. Normally, these temps would not be big deal, at this time year. But after last few weeks, with temperatures in 70s, this might come to shock to you.

It will not be this cold, all week, however. Temperatures will slowly rise back to 45-50, Tuesday afternoon. A warm front will move through the area on Wednesday. High temps back into upper 50s and low 60s, with party sunny skies.

Restaurant Review: Penang

Growing up, Chinese take-out was a staple in my family, and one of my favorite meals of the week. It's still good, but after almost 20 years of ordering from the same restaurant, the menu has grown a bit tiresome (something my mother vehemently echoes on a fairly regular basis). In recent years, the vast expansion of Thai and other East Asian cuisines in the city has allowed me to explore alternatives. One of the finest of these alternatives is the exquisite Malaysian eatery between Amsterdam and Columbus on 72nd street: Penang.

As far as the menu goes, Penang really has something for everyone. Besides catering to both meat-eaters and vegetarians, I overheard from a waiter once that the restaurant is dairy-free (don't know if this applies to some of the desserts, though, so it would be good to ask). Unlike many Chinese take-out places, the food is never greasy and always prepared with fresh ingredients (not to mention always delicious- I recommend the Basil Chicken).

In addition to the fabulous menu, the layout of the restaurant is casual yet classy. Long and narrow, but with plenty of elbow room and a full bar in the front. No windows, but the entire front wall (facing the street) is made of glass, letting in just the right amount of light. The most unique part is the restrooms. Two unisex restrooms are separated by a short corridor containing the sinks, making the wait time shorter for both men and women, and no waiting at all if you just want to wash your hands.

If anyone is looking for a change of pace from the usual Chinese food, I highly recommend trying Penang. It's a bit pricey, but the combination of quality food, a cozy atmosphere and all-around good time makes the investment well-worth it.

PENANG NYC WEBSITE

In Search of Myths and Heroes

Ever since I was little, I've always loved folktales and mythology. After becoming enthralled with Michael Wood's famous and amazing series, The Story of India, I wanted to explore his other work. This program focuses on four of the world's most famous mythological stories, explores the actual geographic locations where they were said to have taken place, and analyzes historical and religious texts to see how the myths have been shaped and changed over the centuries and influenced by many different cultural traditions.

The Queen of Sheba
First appearing in the Old Testament of the Bible, this legendary queen is claimed by the Ethiopians to be the mother of their first king via a relationship with King Solomon. In the Yemeni tradition, she is the ruler of a vast kingdom, fabulously wealthy from the historical Arabian incense trade.

Arthur: Once and Future King
While believed by many to be the quintessential English folktale, Arthur's legend was composed over a period of hundreds of years and influenced by stories from Ireland, France and most of all, the rich and enduring traditions of the Celts, Britain's original inhabitants.

Shangri-La
A hidden valley in the Himalayas where the wisdom of humanity is preserved to rebuild the world after violence, corruption and lust for power has destroyed it. Drawing on ancient Indian philosophy, Wood travels straight into Tibet and visits mysterious monasteries and magnificent mountains.

Jason and the Argonauts
One of the most famous of all Greek myths, this story of an ocean voyage to retrieve a magnificent treasure is actually a tale of how the Greeks first started planting colonies in the resource-rich areas of the Black Sea, and how many of those ancient traditions still remain alive today.

The most unique and enchanting aspect of the series is the "storytelling". Whenever a text or source is quoted, the screen displays a black room lit only by candlelight, and a woman (a different one for each episode) recites the words in a soft and mysterious voice (each brings a unique touch, but the one for the "Shangri-La' episode is particularly adept).

Simply put, anyone looking for good historical information, highlighted by dramatic scenery, camerawork and captivating storytelling, this is the series for you!