Posts from — November 2008

Every time I hear or read about the travesty killing of Marcelo Lucero here on Long Island I want to cry. It’s abominable that something like this still takes place in our society. To know this took place combined with all the racial b.s. that is now circulating about Pres. Elect Obama – yes here in affluent suburbs of Long Island is unconscionable.

Marcelo’s death hits a deep cord with me because for 5 years prior to starting this company I worked for a Spanish Language Newspaper and was immersed in the Hispanic culture. Beyond that I come from a diverse family with people of all types and grew loving them all. Working with the Hispanic market I found loving, caring people who wanted the very same things out of life as me for themselves and their families.

I was once asked by the an organizer of the Hispanic Day Parade in New York about my experience with the culture and the market. I told her how much I was enjoying the experience and also shared some of the racist war stories I encountered. I told her how sad it was to hear similar stories to some my father had shared relaying his experiences as an Italian kid in New York some 40 years earlier. His getting beat up and referred to as a dumb Dago on different occasions.

I recall saying it’s as if this country has a warped hazing ritual and if you survive it we accept you. How sad… That conversation was about 4 years ago and look how little has changed.

We as a society need to stamp out this thought process, expose those who tolerate it and shame them for their behavior. We are better then the experience Marcelo Lucero other people of diversity have with our country.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Last night we hosted our 2nd Long Island Farm to Table event at Maxwell and Dunne’s. LIFT is a collaboration between us here at canvas and the folks at Peak Organic Brewing. The goal of LIFT is to bring sustainable foods to the menus of Long Island Restaurants and highlight those who are already there.

What a great night!

Our evening started with apps and drinks at the bar. Chef Palmer prepared some great raw apps and dips, drinks from Peak Organic Brewing, LiV Vodka and Shinn Estates were poured to accompany. I had the LiV Martini that John made it was so good I had two – oops. Thanks for driving Adele.

We moved to the Green Room for dinner and enjoyed a delicious meal. All dishes we’re accompanied by selections from Shinn Estates Vineyards. My favorites of the night we’re the Blackfish and the Apple Fritter and the Shinn Red. The porterhouse steak was great as well.

It was fulfilling to look around the room and seeing everyone who attended deep in conversation, laughing and sharing a meal. We had two LIFT events so far and are excited to take them to the next level. If you’ve thought of joining us for one please do it will be well worth it!

Thanks to everyone who came, helped make it possible and shared good thoughts.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Lately, I’ve been reading different articles on how bottled water isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Researchers have now examined the plastic that holds the water and they’ve found that some chemicals, which certain types of plastic contain, such as pthalates (found in many toys and other soft plastic goods made of PVC plastic) and bisphenol A (organic compound known as BPA), may seep into the water. These toxins can disrupt the endocrine system, messing with your hormonal balance. This can cause fatigue and even weight gain — defeating the purpose of your workout, etc. When these bottles are exposed to the heat (sitting on your porch after a delivery on a hot summer day) the chemicals release into the water that much faster. And all this time I thought bottled water was the bomb. Guess I was wrong.

Today was the clincher. Thanks to Poland Springs, I’ll be switching over to a water filtration system as soon as possible. Besides the fact that the delivery guy forgets to pick up and deliver water from time to time and the endless 1-800 calls back and forth to the company…putting me on hold for minutes, hours, days at a time. When the hot water heater stopped working about a month ago, I procrastinated in making that dreaded call to the company. Friday I finally conceded, made the call and left my cooler outside to be switched for a new one. When I arrived home, I opened the cardboard box only to find a completely different kind of cooler. That would have been cool, but the orange juice stains on the top and the filthy innards of the cooler were not so cool. Very uncool, as a matter of fact.

I was given a completely used, UNCLEANED water cooler. Even worse, the inside metal container where the water goes in was freezing cold and had condensation around the perimeter…as if this cooler may have been running in another home only minutes before. The company explained to me that they recycle their coolers when they break, instead of replacing them with brand new ones. They fix them, fumigate them and send them back out. Now, I’m all for recycling, and I love when my coffee cups say ‘recycled paper’ but that doesn’t mean I would drink from a dirty coffee cup. What are the odds that other Poland Springs customers have been given back unsanitized coolers as well? Tomorrow the cooler and three unopened water bottles will be sitting on my porch. Only this time they’re going back for good. Goodbye, Poland Springs. Hello, water filter system.

Last nite was our 12th canvas Open Mic. I’ve watched these events evolve from a concept shared by a former employee to the 1st event and finally to last night. One of our current interns suggested we provide surveys, which we did last night, to see what our attendees are thinking about the event. It was a pleasure to come this morning to see their responses.

Our regular host Joe Iadanza was away and Matt, my business partner filled in. Joe we look forward to your return you take a lot of pressure off us! As we recapped the night this morning, I described last night as the wackiest (in a good way) canvas Open Mics we’ve held. We had a full house and it’s a live event so you never know what’s going to happen. This one had the makings of spinning out of control.

The nite provided a lot of highlights, laughs and great music!!!

Next month is the 1st Anniversary of the canvas Open Mic, we hope you’ll attend to support the artists that come out.

Between the performers, audience, Joe’s hosting and the “treats” from Wholes Foods Market, Open Mic has become one of rewarding aspects of starting Footprint Media and canvas.

Those that have supported it to date – Thank You from the bottom of my heart!

Tom Pellicane- Publisher

The tapestry of foliage that is blanketing our towns is an incredible testimony to the spirit and power of nature. A broad showing of color highlighted by the sun as our days seemingly grow shorter. Still 24 hours in each day and yet many of us guided by light and darkness feel we have less time to do what we want and what we must.

Will we ever have enough time to do what we want…regardless of the season?
It is not a matter of less I realized the other day as I began to lament about the extreme darkness at 5pm…a matter of ‘different’. And so; I decided to embrace the ‘fall back” notion of the end of daylight savings time and ride the natural flow of the season. On opportunity to catch up on my reading and/or listening to podcasts; curling up by the fire or in comfy sweats with a hot cup of tea in my favorite chair or with a friend.

And when the sun does warm the air enough …I can still break out my sneakers and take a walk or ride; enjoying the true magnificence of a crisp fall day. There are so many places to enjoy however long or short on time you are.

The other day at work I struck up a conversation with a total stranger…and before I knew it we were exchanging our hot soup solutions to the daily challenge of preparing a quick hot and healthy meal. Send me your soup recipe by clicking here…I will post as many as I can.

Partaking in the local foods of the season is a wonderful way not only to embrace nature but also supports our local farmers and decreases our need for shipping from one end of the country to another.

When asked to contribute to this blog…I tried to think of an overarching theme to keep me on track but quickly realized that for many of us there is no reason focus on only one thing… with all of the vast choices in our world. So I am sure I will write about a lot of different things but particularly nature as it is forever peeking my curiosity and technology the same. Ironically 2 diametrically opposed forces that are both everywhere. Should we even try to make sense of it all? Or just take it all in?

Pause…Enjoy the view, and the season…even if just for a short jaunt or a few moments through a window.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”- Will Rogers