Sunny Anderson and Aida Mollenkamp shoot

Conventional wisdom is that having to work on a Sunday is big drag, but I'm pretty lucky. Today working the weekend meant working with two rising Food Network stars, Sunny Anderson and Aida Mollenkamp in the Food Network kitchens at our Chelsea headquarters.



Aida's show is called Ask Aida and Sunny's is called Cooking for Real.

Aida is an admitted food nerd who's been cooking seriously since her teens.



Sunny (below left) is an army brat who's lived around the world and brings that unique perspective to her cooking.



Some of my favorite people from our marketing department also attended.



From L to R: Katie Ilch Director of Advertising, Susie Fogelson VP of Marketing and Brand Strategy, and Patalia Tate VP of Creative Services. On the far right is Sandy Sabean, one of the principals from WomanKind, one of our creative vendors.

Emma Bowen iLink Sessions

If it wasn't for my participating in the San Francisco Chronicle Broadcasting Minority Internship Program in 1984 and the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Multicultural Advertising Internship Program in 1985, I'd probably be working as an Industrial Engineer for some big manufacturing company instead of enjoying a successful career in the television industry.

So I'm always eager to try and give back some of the blessings I've received and help out with some of today's minority intern programs. This past week I had the privilege of serving as a mentor for students participating in the Emma Bowen Foundation's minority internship program. I first got involved with the foundation during the summer of 2003 when I worked with students Demetrius Watson and Ramoncito "Mike" Robles.

This time my service involved helping out during a two-day seminar designed to help the interns further develop their career skills.



There were 22 students in my session.

But I was assigned to work closely with 5 students and a talented co-mentor in developing a 30 minute presentation on managing up.



From L to R

Whitney Williams, Donna Stalworth (co-mentor), Pierre Roache, Adrienne Lucas, Anisah Munruddin, Nephtaly Rivera, me

They came up with a highly entertaining and innovative presentation that spoofed popular TV shows Family Feud





and The Tyra Banks Show.



Each of them demonstrated so much passion, knowledge, and energy that I'm very excited about the future of the media industry. At the end of the two days I participated in the certificate granting ceremony.






I'll really miss these students and I hope they'll reach out to me in the future.

July 4th Bike Ride

Since the Summer of 2004 I've been an avid bike rider, cycling to and from work each and every day, rain or shine, and riding for fitness and recreation every weekend day. I'm not sure if it's the riding I enjoy more, or the fact that I get to ride the New York City Greenway.

The Greenway begins just two blocks from my home on 38th and 2nd Avenue, and it offers over 30 miles and 2 hours of wonderful scenery and interesting experiences, only possible in America's greatest city.


Miles 1-8




Today began with a Free Tibet protest just minutes into the ride. I have certain fondness for Tibet since I have two Lhasa Apso dogs (Lhasa is the capital of Tibet), but I also have a deep respect for the Chinese people and I actually think Tibet will be better off as part of the fast growing Chinese nation than as an independent country.


The next 7 miles included the tennis courts under the Williamsburg Bridge, South Street Seaport,



the future site of the new World Trade Center, and I passed by my office in Chelsea.

Miles 9-18

Next 10 miles up to the George Washington Bridge - decked out with a flag for the holiday, and a pass by Fort Tryon Park home of the Cloisters branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to the art and architecture of the European Middle Ages.

Miles 19-32

After turning around near the tippy top of Manhattan island, I headed back home along the Hudson River, passing by the cruise ships along the NYC Passenger Ship Terminal,

before turning on 42nd Street for a roll through Times Square.

Mile 33

Nearly done now as I stop for self portrait in front of Grand Central Station, 4 block from home.