Blogwich

Letter to Editor: Get Strict with Residency Requirements

bubla — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:41:08 +0000

The following is a letter I sent to the editor of the Greenwich Time newspaper and it was published on June 14, 2009:

I have one simple question: Why are the standards for proving town residency more stringent for acquiring a beach pass than they are for sending a kid to a Greenwich public school?

Anecdotally we hear situations every year of non-resident families enrolling children in our schools or we see families that move to nearby towns without moving their kids from the school. There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for the cars with New York plates you occasionally see at drop-off (they are not always nannies) but I would be a lot more comfortable if I knew the town was doing more to protect our educational resources and the spending of our taxes.

The town’s budget for fiscal 2009 is prepared to spend $130 million with anticipated enrollment of 8,880 students, or $14, 640 per student. Assuming only 1% of currently enrolled students are not valid town residents, the town would have $1.3 million of additional resources to reduce class sizes or increase teacher compensation.

The incremental steps being taken to increase residential proof requirements are inadequate. Given the amount of money at stake, not to mention the dilution of the quality of education, it seams worth the additional effort. One cynical but simple solution: require students to present a beach pass for admission. More seriously, I would think the ideal requirement would be proof of payment on town property taxes each year

Restaurant Review of Kira Sushi

bubla — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:06:11 +0000

Quick Take: Some of the best sushi in town (a low standard), clean & quaint atmosphere, great for quick meal, not well suited for large groups, can’t come close to NYC’s best sushi restaurants.

I used to occasionally go to Kira’s original branch in Armonk but found that it wasn’t even the best sushi in Armonk (second to Ginseng, a little known Armonk gem). So, when I heard they were opening a location in central Greenwich, I had low expectations. However, good sushi in Greenwich has been so hard to find that I decided to give Kira a try and was very pleasantly surprised.

First of all, Kira is not well know, possibly because of its hidden location. It is near Greenwich Avenue off Lewis Street on Lewis Court, next to the Frederik Fekkai. The owners did a wonderful job renovating the old sushi place that occupied the location, including a beautiful stone wall behind the sushi bar with cascading water. However, the atmosphere is still casual and is more well-suited to quick meals. The small dining room would have trouble handling a group of 6-8 or more for dinner. If you want sushi in a more formal setting or with a large group, Tengda is a better bet (especially now that Ku is out of business).

The menu is a nice combination of traditional favorites and Kira originals. For appetizers, I love the Tuna Pizza and the Jalapeno Yellowtail. As for their special rolls, try the Lobster Tempura Roll (lobster tempura, jalapeno, avocado and mango wrapped with soy bean seaweed) or the Twins Roll (spicy toro and shrimp tempura on the inside with soft shell crab on the outside).

Whether or not this is the best sushi in town is open to debate. I think the quality of the sushi is slightly better than Tengda but they are different types of restaurants. Tengda has a better and more extensive Asian-Fusion menu, especially in the entrees. Tengda has a better atmosphere for evening dining and is much better for larger groups. Kira is a better pure-play, traditional japanese sushi house like you would find in Japan (although it would be on the fast-food end of the scale in Japan).

In conclusion, I really like Kira for what it is: a traditional Japanese-style sushi restaurant without the glitzy ambience of an Asian-fusion restaurant. Perfect for a quick stop when shopping on the Avenue, a light lunch or takeout. But if you are looking for a night out with friends in a lively atmosphere, Tengda is the better choice.

Food: A-

Service: A-

Kid Friendly: B-

Value: A-

Overall: A-

It’s All About the Schools

bubla — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:26:45 +0000

The following letter was submitted to the Greenwich Time newspaper for publication in April, 2009

On April 21, your paper published a well-written headline article entitled “Schools May Expand Class Sizes” which addressed an extremely important topic for our community. Whether we realize it or not, everything in our community is ultimately driven by the quality of our schools. We have one of the greatest public school systems in the country but one of the few criticism that can be fairly leveled against our schools is the poor student-to-teacher ratios. We absolutely cannot allow the schools to increase class sizes because of budgetary constraints.

Any family, including my own, will tell you that the quality of the schools is the first consideration when choosing where to live. Yet this priority goes way beyond simply wanting the best education for our kids. When a community is perceived as having the best educational system it drives overall demand for housing which ensures sustained long-term value in our real estate investments. This in turn creates a greater real estate tax base for the community to re-invest in education, and so-on. Greenwich clearly established this self perpetuating trend in the right direction decades ago.

Nevertheless, when I enrolled my son in kindergarten this year I was surprised to find a class size of 20 with one teacher and no assistants. The quality of the teachers is superb and they do an amazing job under the circumstances. One of the reasons our schools succeed is that we rely heavily on parent involvement. Parents make up for poor student-to-teacher ratios by regularly volunteering to assist teachers during class throughout the day. It is great to see how much parent involvement supports our schools but I just don’t want to see the Town and the school system take advantage of this by pushing class sizes even higher.

We all understand the current economic and budgetary situations, at least from a high level. We just need to keep our priorities straight. Education expenditures should be the last budgetary item to be cut, if at all. Furthermore, given the likelihood of increased enrollment due to the economy, we need to maintain academic standards by actually allocating more of the budget to the schools. This will obviously require painful cuts in other areas but any other decision would be near-sighted. Please help our community leaders by reminding them that the highest priority should be improving academic standards even when it feels like we should be pinching pennies.

Restaurant Review of Baang Cafe & Bar

bubla — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:41:16 +0000

Quick take: Very creative and tasty menu, although could use an update. Great for takeout, especially when entertaining. A reliable local favorites.

Baang has been a reliable restaurant in Greenwich since 1995 and we have never had a disappointing experience with this restaurant. The menu is Asian-fusion with items like Goat Cheese Wontons, Lobster Indochine and Szechuan Lamb Chops.

The waiters usually recommend ordering family style which works fine with the appetizers and the sides but we have found the entrees (such as the Barbecued Salmon or the Charred Rare Tuna) hard to share. Nonetheless, I love the food at this restaurant. I just suggest ignoring the waiter and get your own entrees.

Some of the sides that you don’t want to miss are the Crispy Calamari Salad, the Duck Fried Rice and the Crispy Spinich.

We have also made great use of their takeout service. When we are entertaining friends when we don’t want to cook and we have too few for catering, we often order from Baang.

My only recommendation for the restaurant is that they update the menu more often. I would go more often if they showed some creativity in the menu and even offered daily specials. Yet this is a minor point and doesn’t keep me from going back for my favorites.

Food: A

Service: A

Kid Friendly: D

Value: A (priced fairly)

Overall: A

Restaurant Review of Beach House Cafe in Old Greenwich

bubla — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:45:30 +0000

Quick Take: Average food, average service, slightly over-priced, kid-friendly and decent atmosphere in a great location.

I have always greatly preferred Sundown Saloon over Thataway even though they are operated by the same owners. I think it is because Sundown doesn’t pretend to be more than it is (comfort pub food) in the way Thataway does. When those same owners opened the Beach House in 2004 we had hoped it would be more like Sundown but it is unfortunately more like Thataway. I find that with both Thataway and the Beach House I don’t go there for the food but instead go for the convenience of their locations and for the atmosphere.

As you look through the menu it looks very appetizing with a nice selection of American faire and to be fair the food is not bad. I guess it just doesn’t live up to expectations in that the food sounds better on the menu than it actually tastes and it is relatively expensive. For example, the Seafood Cobb Salad is pretty good but at $17 I don’t feel like I get my money’s worth.

On the positive side, the Beach House has a great location and the only up-scale bar in the immediate area. It is also one of the few options in Greenwich with outdoor seating along the sidewalk although the small sidewalk tables are best for 2-3 people.

Another positive is that the Beach House has one of the better kids’ menus in the area, just like Sundown and Thataway.

In summary, I find myself going back to the Beach House because it is close to home and the kids like it but it is not a place I would go out of my way to find given the high prices and average food.

Food: B-

Service: B-

Kid Friendly: A-

Value: C

Overall: B-

Restaurant Review of Sundown Saloon in Greenwich

bubla — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:28:39 +0000

Quick Take: One of the best places in Greenwich for kids. Innovate pub-style food. Inconsistent service. Decent bar for happy hour.

We have been taking our kids to Sundown for over 10 years and we have never been disappointed. The menu has something for everyone. I love the salads, burgers and buttermilk chicken tenders. Their burgers are typically served on English muffins which I like — less filler and more room for the good stuff. They also have some of the best fries in town.

My kids like the choices on the kids’ menu, especially the grilled cheese. They also love the fact that kids drinks, like the rootbeer float, are served in a mug shaped like a cowboy boot. The tables, of course, have paper table cloths and crayons which are obligatory in kid-friendly places.

The only problem taking kids to Sundown is if you go there for dinner and have to walk through a rowdy drinking crowd. One time I mistakenly went to Sundown for dinner when they were having a St. Patrick’s Day party in the bar and it wasn’t pleasant taking my daughter to the bathroom which was full of drunks. On the other hand, I have met friends from work at the bar and it is one of the better bars in Greenwich for casual drinks.

The service can be inconsistent. As is typical with casual, pub-style restaurants, there is a lot of staff turnover but in general the service is pretty good.

Summary Ratings:

Food: B (but very good for what it is — bar food)

Service: B-

Kid Friendly: A

Value: A

Overall: A

Restaurant Review of Applausi in Old Greenwich

bubla — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:28:06 +0000

Quick Take: Great Italian food with excellent service although you pay a premium for the convenience of dining locally.

For residents of Old Greenwich and Riverside, there are very few quality dining options when you want to stay local but Applausi is one of the best choices. Immediately when you walk in the door you feel like you are being welcomed into someone’s home as you are usually greeted by one of the owners.

All of the staff is highly professional and pays great attention to the level of service. The menu is very traditional Italian with no contemporary or unique dishes, although they will quickly accomodate “off-the-menu” requests.

We have always been happy using this restaurant for many different occasions including quiet, romantic dinners, gatherings with friends (including kids) and office parties. I have never had a bad experience with Applausi. The staff is very good at accomodating any occasion although I find this restaurant to be too pricey for a quick meal with young kids.

The quality of the food is excellent and you feel that they take great care in the preparation and presentation of each meal.

It is also worth noting that, if you live in Old Greenwich or Riverside, you are likely to know many of the other customers which can be fun unless you are seeking privacy.

Summary Ratings:

Food: A-

Service: A

Kid Friendly: C (staff is great with kids but just not a great choice for young kids)

Value: B (expensive but worth it when you don’t want to go far)

Overall: A-

Reporting on Economy

bubla — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:20:45 +0000

The following is a letter I submitted to the editor Greenwich Time newspaper published in February of 2009

Dear Editor:

I don’t know anyone who is escaping the pain of this downturn. However, I would like your editors and reporters to think a little more carefully about how media can exacerbate the problem. Consumer confidence and the associated consumer spending is the most fragile part of our country’s economy. Unfortunately, the other components of investment, government spending and net exports are also correlated with our consumers. Individual consumers have already been beaten into oblivion so that they are scared to spend money even when they have it. It has become déclassé to appear frivolous even for those who can afford to be frivolous.

I challenge you to think about a few things in your research as well as your publication choices. First, don’t simply attribute every store closing to the downturn. The Avenue is always turning over and we have seen several, impressive new openings in the last year. Some stores would have closed regardless of the economy and some are simply victims of the increased Darwinism brought about by tough times. In other words, don’t publish front page stories for every store that closes and think more carefully about all of the factors contributing to the closure.

Second, please celebrate the individuals who are helping to keep the economy afloat and who will be leading the inevitable recovery. Do not ridicule those who continue to spend like there is no recession (your paper has not done this like the New York papers) and highlight those who are finding new and unique ways to take advantage of this situation. Some of our country’s greatest companies and greatest innovations have emerged during difficult times. There are companies out there that are expanding, hiring, investing in R&D, acquiring real estate and positioning competitively for expansion. It just takes a little extra homework to find them.

Choosing to Support Local Greenwich Businesses

bubla — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:56:55 +0000

The following is a letter I submitted to the editor Greenwich Time newspaper published on March 6, 2009

To the editor:

Our country’s new-found focus on thrift and savings has been a long time coming. American rates of saving and personal leverage have long been a concern, and much of the current economic situation is clearly a correction from past excesses. As such, those of us who are more prudently examining how we spend and save are to be commended.

However, I want to point out a phenomenon that is developing: Frugality has become as chic as being green. In the long term, improved savings rates should be very good for our economy; yet it is very important that we keep in mind the welfare of our local business owners when we curtail the use of their goods and services.

The point I am making is not targeted at those of us who are prudently changing spending patterns to weather the uncertain economic future. Rather, I am simply encouraging all of us to consider what may happen to our local business owners — especially when we are displaying frugality for appearances instead of necessity. A few examples might help clarify this subtle argument.

If you send out birthday invitations for your young child and request “no gifts,” remember the impact on local book stores or the Fun House in Old Greenwich. When you order a book from Amazon, ask yourself if you could get the same book at Just Books even if it costs a few dollars more. If you are scaling back on your use of help around the house (landscaping, housekeeping, etc.) remember how hard it will be for these service providers to get by without your support.

Also, when you have options, choose the local business. Choose Arcadia, the Drawing Room or the Olive Branch instead of Starbucks. Get your next burger at Joey B’s or Garden Catering instead of McDonald’s. You have your own local favorites, and they all need our support now more than ever.

I am fiscally conservative and believe whole-heartedly in capitalism and survival of the fittest when it comes to business. Nevertheless, I love our community and the benefits we receive from our local merchants, and we can all help ensure their survival with very little effort.

Box Tops for Idiots

bubla — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:46:48 +0000

When my eldest first approached me with the idea of collecting box tops for education, I was naturally very supportive. After a few months I had collected 15 to 20 coupons for a whopping total of almost $2.00. I thought to myself, I would rather pay $200 ($100 to the school and another $100 to my kid) as a payment to not have to go through the hassle of collecting these coupons. In fact, I looked up how much my school raised (you can see the results at boxtops4education.com) and it was well under $300 for each of the last few years. I personally would be willing to pay the school $300 each year while my kid is there to stop our participation.

You have to tip your hat to General Mills for coming up with such an ingenius and efficient way to appear benevolant without having to really give up anything. Assuming a box of cereal costs $4.00 the contribution is $0.10, or exactly 0.0025 of the retail price. And that is in return for me cutting out the coupon, having my kid bring it to school where it is further processed by the teacher and then the fund raising organizer. You can be sure that General Mills and the other participating companies (such as S.C. Johnson) have done the analysis to determine that participation in the program generates enough incremental sales to off-set any contributions they make. How could it not?

The next time your PTA suggests participating in Box Tops for Education, I encourage you to challenge them to find out how much is collected and to decide if it is worth the effort. I know that I will never participate again and I hope my school stops wasting its time on this project soon.