Grand Master

Ruby participated in her first chess tournament yesterday. She was the only girl and all the boys are extremely serious - some have private tutors. she came 9th of 9 and even though my heart was breaking as she lost game after game she smiled the whole way through and genuinely loved it. So proud of her.

And she got a trophy anyway, everyone gets a trophy. G-d bless America. 

Happy as Larry

I (which for this post is in fact Al) went on a pretty unique field trip with Ruby’s class yesterday. I volunteered because it was the right thing to do. Oh and because it was a trip to the Freedom Tower/Ground Zero complex where i'd never been. It started off as a standard trip on one of those yellow school buses (they're actually incredibly loud and uncomfortable in case you're wondering). It quickly became apparent though that this wasn't the regular tour. Turns out Ruby's classmate Julian is the grandson of Larry Silverstein who owns the site. So it was all VIP. Freedom Tower itself is still under construction so we couldn't go up, but we had a personalized tour led by the head of PR for Silverstein Properties around Word Trade Center 4 and 7 as well as the showcase suite for Corporate tenants. We got to build own own towers, wear hard hats, chat to the chief engineer and eat our packed lunch 1000 feet up on an empty floor. We were a little overexcited. I mean the kids were. (They had a professional photographer follow us around which explains why they are so good.)

Obama

There's no selfie with the man but I was one of an audience of about 200 people he spoke to during the annual Wall Street journal CEO conference. 

This is an event which brings together about 150 CEOs of the top companies in the world. To be allowed in, your company has to produce over 2 billion in revenues. 

The speakers this year were totally amazing. Gerry (editor in chief) opened the event followed by a brief intro by Rupert. Then Chris Christie (governor of New Jersey, likely republican presidential nominee 2016) was interviewed on stage followed by General Dempsey who is the chairman for the joint chiefs of staff. He is basically highest ranking member of the military and is the guy you see in films / in uniform on the Oval Office sofa advising the president. The content of these interviews was just amazing. 

The next day we had the president of the world bank, jacob lew - secretary of the treasury, Larry summers, penny pritzker (secretary of commerce) and then Obama. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life to hear these people being challenged by our journalists. All while I mingled with CEOs. (Met CEO of McKinsey, Martin sorrel and sat with Jeff bewkes for most of the afternoon who is lovely. He is te CEO of time Warner which owns warner brothers time inc amongst other things). Wow wow wow. Really had to stop mysel from crying when the announcer said - ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States. Then everyone stood and clapped. Luckily no tears came out but it was close! The secret service stuff was also fascinating. 

My team managed over 100 press on site. Such an amazing experience these people are insanely clever, such a privilege to be there and amazing to see the power of our brand and journalists. 

Mustang Sally

Today's rental car - ford mustang convertible. Bloody freezing so no way the hood's going down, and I'm not gonna say its comfy squashed up against the glove compartment with two kids and car seats in the back. But makes al happy. Off to pick apples!

Good photos

This week has been amazing.

Started off with a Stephen Dorff sighting at the office as he interviewed with WSJ. You do not deserve to have slipped so far beneath the radar Stephen.

Continued with WSJ Innovators - the annual event we hold for our lifestyle magazine which awards people for innovations across fashion, design etc. Not every day you get to be at a 150 person dinner with Gisele, Daft Punk and a few other celebs. Colleen and I got our make up done

Alot of beautiful super models - here's carlie kloss. Fricking tall..

And from slightly farther away - Martha Stuart, slightly less tall

And here's me with Jailan from marketing

Gisele who is truly gorgeous with Valentino who is truly orange

And me having a magnanimous moment, helping Valentino feel taller.

I didn't get a photo of Daft Punk as my phone ran out of juice! But some amazing press coverage of the event, thanks to my lovely hard working team. http://www.style.com/peopleparties/parties/scoop/newyork-110713_WSJ_Innovator_Awards/, http://www.refinery29.com/2013/11/56900/gisele-bunchen-sexy-dress-outfit,  http://www.eonline.com/news/478427/gisele-bundchen-goes-braless-wears-plunging-mini-dress-to-wsj-magazine-innovators-awards, http://www.justjared.com/2013/11/06/gisele-bundchen-plunging-neckline-at-wsj-magazine-awards/

Vegan treat

Thanks to Karen's book - here's my first vegan cookie - chocolate chip coconut. They were good actually.

Coffee and playground

The two main components of our weekends. 

First we make sure Eben is ready for action.

Then head out. This is the most recent playground we've discovered as it has this massive open space perfect for Eben's scooter wildness

Us at milk, one of our favorites

Though al insists Burch is better

Eben almost as good as ruby on the monkey bars now 

And finally, here's ruby's pic up in the school cafeteria of happy faces going for a swim in the pool. We have breakfast next to it every day.

Fall leaves

Today we walked through the park to this cute thing at the 92y called Shababa. (Shabbat program for kids which is brilliant I loved it). Leaves are out in cp.

 

Trick or treating

We stayed around these roads again this year. Tinker bell and the gruffalo with our token pumpkins on the way out to gorge!

A sampling of the different houses on 94th and 95th. Blurry photos coz of the smoke machines..

We met up with Scott magnolia and their kids and ended the night with pizza and phones for the kids. pizza, wine and vodka for us.