Back to the streets of New York

Last night I came back to New York a week later than expected. In fact I wished for an extra week back home in London. How was I to know that time would come in the form of Hurricane Sandy.

An extra week meant seeing more friends, eating more fish and chips and getting my British Citizenship.

Even with this blessed week, my eyes were on my new home. New York. I stayed up late in the night, eyes glued to the news. Waters flowing into subways, friends without power, some still without homes. It’s a mess.

Flying in I strain to see past people to the window. Was that water there before? Was that supposed to be a river? I can’t tell.

At the airport, the immigration queues are long as are the ones for the taxis but even that doesn’t seem too extraordinary. I half expect to be walking home from JFK, or at least half way. I’m glad that never comes to pass.

I enter my house expecting dripping water and broken windows. But it’s all as I left it, dirty laundry and all. Half nervous about long travel times, unsure of what to expect, I work from home today, eating my cupboard bare of pasta. Stuck in my little cocoon of house and Internet and the troubles of Downton Abbey.

Tonight, however, I take a ride in. The streets of Manhattan are only half filled, Union Square blocked off and I don’t need to even queue for my coffee at The Bean (which is usual heaves to bursting). We go to Cloud Atlas and less than 40 people are there. The ticket taker thanks me for coming. I’ve never had that before.

My friend and I talk about work and life, boys and the future. We don’t talk about receding waters, food shortages and people who won’t have homes for 8 months.

My house was 3 blocks from flood waters. An oasis in the centre of evacuation zones. I’m so very very lucky. Tomorrow I will go to a shelter to see what they need and the weekend I’ll help clean up whatever is left to clean.

There is a comradary amongst strangers but it’ll begin to ebb as they slip back into their routine. Lights on and subways running. People are heading back to half empty bars and cinemas and coffee shops. They’ll donate their $10 and go to some Hurricane Sandy charity event where they’ll pay extra for over priced meat as they gossip over cocktails. All in the name of those still in the wreckage. People who need hands and smiles and a someone who will understand when they scream “why me?”

Not that I’m not guilty. It’s easy to slip back into your cocoon. It’s warm. It’s lovely. It makes the world feel normal again.

But it’s not.

(PS if you want to help check out here: http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/ or here for LES: http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/volunteer-update-11-5/)

Collecting donations for NYC shelters

This Sunday I’m traveling back to New York and I want to bring
back donations to help as much as possible. Let’s show New Yorkers how supportive and giving the Brits are. They need us!

I’m looking for donations to bring back with me. These include:

Toys: Non-fabric kids toys, books and Clothes would be SUPER! Shelters have a ton of kids. Crayons, markers, coloring paper and construction paper are particularly helpful. We don’t want to stress the school’s resources.

Adult stuff: clothes and books, particularly ones in other languages, would be helpful for adults.

There’s lots more that’s needed especially from us New Yorkers. I’ll be volunteering as soon as I touch down. More here: http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2012/oct/30/how-help-hurricane-sandy/

What I'm going to see at the London Screenwriter's Festival

So I’m going to London on Saturday night for 9 days and I’m so excited. Not only do I get to see all of my amazing friends, read through Raptured with the cast, and go to a Woman of the Year luncheon for my work with the riot cleanup in Clapham Junction, but I also get to be part of this year’s London Screenwriters Festival.

I’m reaching out to some of the writers/ producers/ directors who are going so I can hopefully meet up with them (as it’s a brilliant thing to do when you are at a festival). I’ll also be writing up many of the sessions over on the Red on Black Productions blog.

I thought I’d give you a heads up on what I’m thinking of seeing. Let me know if you are going to any of the sessions I am (we can sit together!) or if you want to go for a coffee on the breaks. So here goes…

THURSDAY:
Pitching session. This is a whole day affair. I thought it would be a great idea to brush up on pitching projects especially as we are looking for more people to come on board with Raptured Season 2.

FRIDAY:
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Produced or rejected: Is your script the best that it could be? With Kate Leys
Back by popular demand, Kate Leys returns with her highly rated and standing room only festival favourite session. 

2:00 - 3:00 PM: The secret to your success with Paul Ashton
Do you want an agent? Commissions? Productions? An overall glittering life as a scriptwriter? Then come to this session – and find out the big secret that every writer needs to know. 

3:30 - 4:30 PM: What the comedy commissioners want with Paul Bassett Davis, Lucy Lumsden, Chris Sussman
The seat of power in British Comedy TV is occupied by a select group of commissioners – what are they looking for and how do you get it to them so that they can greenlight YOUR work? Expect a serious session about being funny. 

5:00 - 6:00 PM: How to get a feature film funded, filmed and released in Britain with Richard Holmes
If there is one British producer you need to know, it’s Richard Holmes… 

6:30 - 7:30 PM: 50 screenwriter survival tips with Daniel Martin Eckhart, Danny Stack, Mark Pallis, Richard Dinnick, Micho Rutare,  and (my personal favorite as he’s my mate) David Varela.
Our expert panel will offer their 50 Top Tips in staying alive so you can live off the proceeds of your writing talent. 

SATURDAY:
9:00 - 11:30 AM: Steve Ince: The writing for games lab
This is where I will learn all about writing for games (as long as I get in). It’s still up in the air, but fingers crossed!! 

2:00 - 3:00 PM: Writing fantastical sci-fi with Tony Lee and Phil Ford
Sci-Fi has always had deep roots in British writing. How can you take your love of this beloved of genres and turn that to your advantage? What makes produceable Sci-Fi and how do you break in?

3:30 - 4:30 PM: Maximise your script’s produceability without losing the plot with Sascha Hecks, Angeli Macfarlane, Sophie Meyer, Luke Ryan, and Stephen May
Rewriting and polishing your script to make it easier to sell - small changes make BIG DIFFERENCES. Which ones mean the most? 

5:00 - 6:00 PM: Writing comics for fun and profit with Tony Lee
What can comics teach you as a screenwriter? And more importantly, what can a graphic novel of your screenplay do for you? 

6:30 - 7:30 PM: Social Media: why YOU should embrace it today
Not everyone has joined the social media revolution, and not everyone will – but if you have resisted it, give this session a whirl to see what you could be missing out on. It could be the game changer you have been waiting for.

I’ll be on this panel with Paul Bassett Davis, Lucy V Hay, Tracy Thomas and Andra Mann. I’ll be sharing some social media facts care of the folks at Econsultancy and may even have a free report or two to give away!

SUNDAY:
9:00 - 10:00 AM: The non-linear minefield with Linda Aronson
Practical advice on what goes wrong, right and unexpectedly brilliant when you’re writing nonlinear and multiple storyline films. 

10:30 - 11:30 AM: Sleeping in the slaughterhouse: Microbudget filmmaking dos and don’ts with Signe Olynyk and Bob Schultz
How do you make a multi-million dollar, studio quality movie with no money, and then sell it and turn it into a successful release? 

2:00 - 3:00 PM: The truth: with X-files writer and producer Frank Spotnitz
(this is on the same time as Mike Leigh so I’m torn but I think I want a little background on such a big Sci-fi show)
An in depth conversation with Frank Spotnitz, Emmy award winning writer and producer of The X Files (TV Series and both movies), Hunted, The Lone Gunmen and Millennium. 

3:30 - 4:30 PM: Is the old world dead? Should you be writing for the web?
A new generation of writer is ignoring the established industry and craving out their own niche on the internet - how do you go from a few hundred views to millions, and create YOUR own brand and loyalty?

OK so this is another one of my panels and I’m dead excited. I get to chat about Raptured and find out how others are doing their web projects. Fun times.

I will not let myself think of the session that is going on at the same time with Lisa Albert. The Lisa Albert who works on Mad Men and worked on shows I grew up with like Murphy Brown and Major Dad. I will NOT think about that.

But I may jump into her session when I’m done. If there is no space? I’l head over to “Writing Horror: should you take a stab?” I love a good cheezy title :)

F*** you Vegas

So I’ve travelled nine hours to get to you and I’ve stood in queues for taxis and for hotel rooms and yet I’m wary but hopeful that everything will work out fine. I change into (what I call) a rah rah dress. I’m not sure of it, I like it, it’s fun but it’s not the nicest dress I’ve brought with me. I’ll save the nicer ones for networking and talking and strangers I don’t know but should do business with, or just someone who’ll help.

But none of what I brought is Vegas. I’M not Vegas. I think Vegas is tacky and cheap but fun and slick and for people who don’t know any better. I know better. Or at least I think I do. But I still go out tonight.

So I’m out and at first it’s like I’m in my Dad’s version of Vegas (not my words but they’re good ones) and then…there’s a comment about my hair. I’ve got roots. Blonde with dark roots. I was hoping no one would notice. But they do. I’m waiting to go home to England next week. They’ll sort my hair and I’ve had no luck in New York despite me paying the cost of a couch for someone to fry my hair. It’s just not the same. It’s just not home.

Then somehow we move and there is money exchanging hands and we are on a roof terrace and we are seeing the full Vegas strip in front of us. It is beautiful.

Breathtaking.

But then somehow everyone’s talking and it seems to be about me and a woman who wants to shag anyone she can see is saying “oh she’s pretty and smart but that’s why no one wants to date her” and colleagues turn to whisper “I know someone” or “I’ll set you up” or “It’s Vegas, just go for it” and I just want to get through the next six days just doing my job and getting back home to my friends and that no one here thinks I’m the loser that I feel like right now.

And that no one will answer “It’s cause she’s a lot of woman to handle”  with ” Is that cause of her weight?” like that stranger did. That man I didn’t know before one hour ago.

And that I won’t tear up and want the floor to open beneath me.
And that I won’t have to smile like brittle glass and just take it.
And grit my teeth to stop my screaming
And that I won’t have to see everyone just look around awkwardly and make small talk and not defend me.
And that I won’t feel like that f***ing 14 year old in ill fitting sweaters that wished I looked different and wished people noticed me and wished one guy out there would want to kiss me.

I thought I was over that.

I’m an adult.

F**k you Vegas. It’s not your fault. I don’t really mean it. But neither do the people who should know better. Though it feels like they do.

So f**k you Vegas.

F**ck you.

Covering Social Media Week Chicago

Last week I was in Chicago covering Social Media week there. It was the first time to the windy city and not only did I enjoy a great time with a friend from back home who came out to Chicago cause she heard I was coming but I got to eat some great food, take the spectacular Architectural boat tour, see some public art, go to a Second City show and make new friends. Oh yes. And I wrote a couple of articles (and I have a few more coming…)



Here are my two favourites:

Get on Google Plus or get left behind

In the 15 months since the launch of Google+, over 250 million people are using it. Though many of commented on it being a ghost town, this is far from the case. On average, users are on Google + 12 minutes a day, which is just shy of Facebook’s average of 14 minutes a day. With over one million brands jumping on the wagon (including over 50% of the top 100 US brands), this arena is growing rapidly. With 5 Billion plus ones per day, this has been the fastest global social share button in history.

Yes. Today I’ve been getting schooled on the world of Google Plus in my first session at Social Media Week Chicago. Though I was asked how many people are holding accounts to prevent brand jacking, the stats say that it’s use is only growing and I’d argue, if you’re just sitting on your brand page, you’re missing a huge opportunity to get ahead of your competition. More—>

The lowdown on promoted tweets and trends at #SMWChicago

Marketers are always looking to find the best way to promote their brand full stop. It’s their job after all. As social media picks up the drive toward paid media opportunities, it’s easy to be confused on which avenues to take and where to move your spend.

Today’s session at Social Media Week Chicago, Tweeting Louder - using paid and earned tactics to make noise in the Twittersphere, tried to tackle this topic with Andrea Javor, Director of Digital and Media Strategy with Beam Global (the makers of Jim Beam and Makers Mark), Kristin Walsh, Director of Influencer and Consumer Engagement for FritoLay North America and Brent Hill, the director of the US Central region for Twitter. More—>

How to "Not Drink" my way to Brazil

When I was home this month, my cousin and her husband decided they were going to visit a friend who lived in Brazil next year. I teased them about wanting to come (well it wasn’t really teasing as I’ve always wanted to go to South America) so after a bit of planning, we’ve decided to go for it!

Our trip will include Rio, Sao Paulo, Lima, Machu Picchu and Easter Island. Eeee. Very exciting…and very expensive.

So I’ve decided to save money by not drinking (New York is expensive!). Every night of no drinks, I get $10 in the pot. Every night I do drink, I take $10 out of the pot. Yikes!
Now there is a secondary reason for this as well. I have mentioned before in my blog that with all the stress of moving, new job, new country (so basically excuses, excuses, excuses), I’ve been eating and drinking for England. This has expanded my waist line and the size of the clothes in my closet. I’d like to climb to the top of Machu Picchu without keeling over so I got to cut back.

A lot of wonderful people in my life have decide to go down the road to health in the last few months and I want to join them. It’s a path I’d been on for a great portion of my life until recently and I’m tired of scrambling around in the bushes watching the rest of the world go by.

Though I was thinking of adding more challenges to help my fundraising (like exercise), I think cutting drink is a good and simple goal as it’s 1) expensive 2) calorific.

It’s important to note that this drink rule still counts if it’s free. That is my downfall. I do love free…but if I want to be sunning myself on a beach in South America in 5 months and look hot in my bikini, I have to start saving - calories and coins.

For those of you also facing the same problem (especially as there’s SO many networking events out there that are oh so tempting to indulge at), join me! I’ll regularly post how things are going and will start to add other challenges in here to keep off the pounds without taking all the pleasure out of life :)

How to change your Twitter header image

The last few days I’ve been pursuing Twitter and seeing some users have headers! Say wha?? I want one of those! So I did a little searching and found out that this is a new feature that rolled out with the Twitter iPad app.

Never fear, you don’t need to have the iPad app to add a header but you can access it from your friendly browser (mine is called Chrome). I’ve included pictures to show you just what to do - they are a bit tiny so click on them to get a size that you can see without your glasses ;)

First off go to edit your profile:



Then go to Design (it’s a tab on the left hand side)



Scroll down and add a photo from your computer



And then you have a pretty header! Hoorah!



If you have the iPad app, you can take a picture and add it to your header but you can’t seem to be able to do that on your phone yet.

Done something cool and inventive with your new Twitter header? I’d love to see it! Please put a URL below and I’ll post my favorite ones!

Riot Cleanup: a year on

One year ago today, I found myself on the couch of This Morning sitting beside Kate Nash and talking about what we did in the efforts to clean up London after the riots.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G9ZUCRioh0?rel=0]

It was a very different and unexpected place then where I was 24 hours previously when I grabbed a pair of yellow marigolds and my kitchen broom and a handful of bin bags and marched down to the Nandos in Clapham Junction to see if anyone would come to help clean up my neighborhood. They were there. And they kept coming and coming and coming until we were, as the press named us, the broom army.



A year on and I still can’t believe that it even happened. I can’t believe that people ransacked their own town, their high streets, their home and I can’t believe the massive support of everyone involved in the riot cleanup.



I find it amazing to have been part of such a inspiring, community driven moment that brought all walks life together. And so many people were responsible for getting the people there. Yes, I tweeted a meeting place and told each new group on Facebook and Twitter to help but those manning the lines online did such an amazing job helping spread the word, to encourage people to go back out and take back their neighborhood by showing it the love and attention it needed.

Without Dan Thompson, Sophie Collard, Jake Mulley, Patrick Socha, and Sam Duckworth, this would’t have happened. In fact without the hundreds of people that took to the streets with brooms in their hands, the local businesses that handed out food and drinks, the tea makers, the police officers, the councilors, and those around the globe cheering us on, this wouldn’t have happened.

Some great things came off the back of that day. I got to help with gathering volunteers for the Doddington Community Garden and helping transform part of their space by trading my broom for a shovel. Very excitingly, Dan Thompson and Sophie Collard have gone on to create We Will Gather (which looks awesome so please, please support them!). Channel 4 News covered some of the initiatives today on their site and I believe it’s just the tip of the iceberg. How could the sight of hundreds of brooms not inspire people around the world?

It’s been a hell of a year. But I look back on that moment in my life, I’m so honored to have been a little part of it. And it has truly made me believe that we can do anything. That community still exists. That people are good. Sometimes we forget that. But I won’t. Not now. And hopefully not ever.

PS If you want to read about my experience on the day of the cleanup, I captured it in a storify so that day could be remembered just as it happened.

My half marathon adventures on the Great Wall of China

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPyHF1eDb2U?rel=0]

So we did it. Marianne and I completed the half marathon on the Great Wall of China on May 19th, 2012. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do but also the most rewarding.

I’m so excited that we have embarked on this journey. I hope you enjoy the video we made of our run. We didn’t get the village we ran through on the video but we got the wall which was amazing and I’m sure what you all wanted to see!

If you want to donate to Cancer Research UK (who we are doing all this crazy running for), you can do it here: http://justgiving.com/c242k

Woohoo!

I'm speaking at Transmedia London 5 in May!

I’m really excited. I have to fly through London on the way to China for our half marathon. When I’m on the way back I get to speak at Transmedia London 5 on 29 May, 2012 at BAFTA.

I’ll be talking about my web series Raptured, what I learned from making the first series and what I’m going to do with the second series (eek!). I really want to put more of a transmedia element to it to tell the story of the new Raptured world. Anyone interested in helping, do let me know. (No seriously. I mean it. Email me.)

The event is organized by Adrian Hon and Rachel Clarke in conjunction with BAFTA and Women in Film and TV. Adrian is the co-founder and CEO at the award-winning Six to Start where he created Perplex City, Smokescreen, and We Tell Stories while Rachel Clarke is a social media and digital comms strategist at Momentum Worldwide.

Also speaking on the night is Hilary Perkins, Multiplatform Commissioning Editor for Drama and Film at Channel 4, whose work includes the BAFTA-nominated Misfits and www.dreamsofyourlife.com, and Louise Downe, a service designer & thinker who is a senior consultant at Seren Partners.

Come down and say hi!

Don't look the celebrity in the eyes

[caption id=”attachment_1629” align=”aligncenter” width=”199” caption=”Yep. She musta just seen a celeb. Photo by K Kendall”][/caption]

Yesterday I saw my first celebrity in New York. Felicia Day (creator of the Guild and one of the stars of Eureka) came in looking for a seat at one of my favorite coffee places, Think Coffee, near Union Square.

I’m not one for going up to people I’ve seen on TV. Unless they are at a book signing or at an event where they are being carted out for publicity purposes, I try not to bother them. I guess if we were standing in a queue together, I may say “I really liked you in X. Good work.” But that’s about it.

My friend actually saw Alec Baldwin yesterday with his yoga-licious girlfriend. He pulled out his phone and jokingly asked, “Do you mind if I take a picture?” He did mind. He turned his head and put his hand out. My friend got a picture of the pavement instead of a star. My friend now thinks he’s rude or didn’t want his picture taken cause he was looking rough. His wife suggested that he should have taken one from across the street instead. I, on the other hand, think let him be.

Think about it this way. These people are strangers. Yes, they’ve taken on a job that means millions of people see them being someone they aren’t (for the most part). Alec Baldwin may not be that funny in real life nor may Felicia Day know the science behind her lines in Eureka.

Really, you might as well walk into a restaurant and sit beside a stranger and start gushing at them. They will look at you as if you are crazy, ask the waiter for the bill, or have you removed. Or you could start following some man walking a dog down the street and when you get the courage, jump in front of him with your camera and start taking pictures. I’m thinking he probably wouldn’t like that very much. In either scenario, do you think it’s outside of their jurisdiction to tell you to piss off?

If you do strike up a conversation and the celebrity in question is nice enough to chat back, what are you going to talk about? Nine times out of ten, you will gush and they will nod. Just cause they are famous, doesn’t mean you’ll have anything to talk about.

So as I settle in to being a New Yorker, I’m sure I’ll continue to see celebrities spotted about. But I’m taking to heart that you don’t talk to celebrities in New York. You just flick side glances at them. And then mention it in your blog.

On the path to curing cancer

[caption id=”attachment_1626” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”Me posing after 7 miles”][/caption]Ok. I’m not curing cancer myself. I’m a writer not a scientist. But I am running for Cancer Research.

Yesterday I ran 7 miles, my longest race ever, and I’m back out there again tomorrow to take Prospect Park by storm….at 13 miles an hour.

My friend Marianne and I came up with the idea a year ago to run all the races up to a marathon. Not only would we run 5K, 10K, a half marathon and a marathon but we’d do it in four continents as well. We called it Couch to 42K (or #c242k on Twitter) as we non-runners were going to get off the couch and run a marathon!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w0mP0NAh5I?rel=0&w=640&h=360]

So far we’ve run in London and Morocco and in less than a month, we’ll be winging our way to China to run a half marathon on the Great Wall of China.

Some people asked me if I am scared.

Damn straight I’m scared, I’m running further than I’ve ever run before halfway around the world…

BUT

Running up hills, up stairs, up anything is nothing compared to the people who fight so hard to beat cancer, a disease that will affect one of four people around the globe. Today Brandie, one of the cheeriest person I know on Twitter, is going in for breast cancer surgery. Her spirit is so bright and so many people are rooting for her.

Yes. She is one of the many people we are running for.

3550 people in the US and 850 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each day. With survival rates at just shy of 50%, I hope the more support cancer research can get, the better that number will get.

I actually went to a conference last week about Amazon Web Services and how they are making “the cloud” more accessible to us all.

The one speaker who brought applause from the crowd was a representative from Cyclecloud. He talked about their work with Schrödinger, a company that offers molecular-modeling and drug-design software. With their 50,000 core super computer they ran a virtual screen to identify proteins that are responsible for cancer.

Normally a super computer costs at least 20 million so this is out of the reach for most researchers (and I would argue almost all). By using cloud services with 3000 servers at full capacity, Schrodinger were able to do 112 years worth of calculations in three hours at the cost of $4828.85 an hour. This will help make the impossible big science possible. It’s breathtaking to hear that this could enable us to find the cure even faster.

Today, I feel the possibilities are getting brighter. My aunt died over five years ago from cancer. I wish every day that she was still here. So I hope we all can work towards a cure by walking, running, fundraising, supporting, researching, fighting and being there for one another.

I know you won’t all be on the Great Wall with me but your spirit will be. My aunt will be there pushing me on, her voice in my ear “I believe in you, you can do it. When you believe, you can do anything…”

Moving is stressful!

Though this isn’t a shock to most people (except me it seems), moving is STRESSFUL. As I take everything in stride, I thought a move across an entire ocean would be a walk in the park. Not only a move mind you, but a new job, waiting for a visa, a feature film to entirely rewrite and a half marathon to train for. Yikes. Stress city.

Somehow, I thought I was hiding it well. I was totally fine. But how could all of those things not do something to you. It took going back to London a couple weeks ago to realize I wasn’t happy these past three months. It wasn’t the job - everyone is great. It wasn’t always the script (though there were a number of weeks that I thought I was a horrible writer and I’d never be able to write again).

I missed my friends. I missed understanding social norms. Sometimes I stayed out way longer with people I didn’t want to be with just cause I wanted to go out. On top of that, I ate and drank for England and stopped training altogether. It made me feel fuller, even if I was eating my way to a heart attack.

A week before coming back to England, I finally put on my trainers and ran around prospect park. I ran 35 minutes without stopping and I cried when I was done. Cried all the way home. I realized that part of me thought I really couldn’t do it. All of my normal confidence was gone. An unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people when you’re stressed to the gills can do that to you.

Even worse, I stepped on the scales in England and realized I’m almost 200 pounds. I was in shock. For years, I was 150 pounds but once I started working in offices and having more money to eat out whenever I wanted, the pounds started piling up, even more so since I’ve been in the US trying to fill the people shaped void with food. (They are not the same shape if you are wondering.)

But going back home to London and finally getting my visa in my hand and finishing my screenplay, I realized I am ready for the New York adventure. It was just that I had too many things in the way of me realizing it. I also figured out that I hate where I’m living right now and need light and a proper kitchen and a place that is home, more than anything else.

As I search for the perfect place, I have wonderful colleagues and, dare I say, friends here to make the transition easier. I’m out running four times a week and have gone on the GI diet (thanks Rick Gallop for writing a normal eating plan ) and back to eating vegan for the most part to help me get back into eating healthy. A week in and I’m starting to feel more like my old self even if I don’t look like it and my legs continually ache.

Tomorrow, I’m getting new trainers to tackle the great wall (psst - you can donate to cancer research who I’m running for here: www.justgiving.com/c242k) and then I’m going to run stairs pretending I’m Rocky Balboa. I’ll pretend he did it in New York. I’m sure no one will know the difference.

Facebook launches new brand pages

Today, at the first Facebook Marketing Talks Live event, Facebook introduced new products and showed case studies from businesses who are finding success through marketing on Facebook.

Facebook’s Product Designer, Blaise DiPersia, and Product Manager, Jeff Kanter, spoke about the philosophy behind the new design of Facebook pages and how you can use your page to the fullest.


Pages are going to be your mission control on Facebook. The Facebook team say they believe in simplicity. As DiPersia put it, “to design an interface is like creating a piece of glass.” They want no clutter and want content to come to the service.

So here are some of the features…

Cover:

Your Facebook page should handle everything a basic website can do. The cover photo is your visual status change now and will set the tone of your page. Your profile picture, on the other hand, should be able to scale down to 30 px by 30 px so it’s good to keep your logo the same as it brings your voice. Verizon is using images taken by customer’s phones and making them into their cover.

In the bottom left, you can put 2 lines as your “elevator pitch” so it will be more prominent. You can then have a suite of Facebook apps or you can have your own. These apps will be replacing tabs (which will definitely upset a few brand reps).

It’s going to be interesting to see what brands do with these new features over the next month and beyond.

Timeline:
You can now go to any story and click on it to allow it to show on the timeline and starred content will cover the two columns which is perfect for rich media. You can also historically post data so you can create your company’s story from when it was first created (which, for a lot of companies, spans beyond the life of Facebook itself).

Pinned post:

You can pick a post to go above the fold outside of the timeline so it doesn’t get lost. This is great for the Questions app so you can have that front and centre. Another new type of post that can benefit from being pinned is called “offer” - and I’m sure you know what that entails. Basically ads are now going to leak into our feeds or at least I think that’s what’s going to happen.

Highlights:
Facebook pulled a sub tab highlighting friend activity into an app so you can see how your friends are interacting with that particular business. Facebook are also looking at how to optimise the music you are listening to through open graph. For instance, on Alicia Keys page you can see the top songs of hers your friends are listening to. Music is the first one they are trying but I’m sure it will quickly expand to other things.

Admin Panel:

The admin panel pulls out a number of things: the new notifications, the last 500 posts, new likes so you know who is connecting to your page, insights so you can have a quick overview, page tips and then a new message feature. This feature is great for customer service and I wish I had it when I was managing social media accounts. There is also a need for different admin permissions and Facebook have five types that they are looking to have out by the end of March.

For all those managing brand pages, remember that all pages will be automatically upgraded on March 30th. You have four weeks to explore how you want to use your new page before they do it for you.

Sounds of Us: Museum of Broken Relationship commission now live

Last summer Michelle Tsen and I made a film for the Museum of Broken Relationships. We crowd sourced “relationship” sounds from Twitter and Facebook and made a stop motion video of one of the objects donated to the Museum of Broken relationships.

It was shown at the museum in London and has finally gone live online. Have a look for yourself and tell us what you think!

[vimeo 37211205 w=400 h=225]

Sounds of Us by Heather Taylor and Michelle Tsen from Laura Kriefman on Vimeo.

Commissioned Film for the Museum of Broken Relationships UK.

Using a donated object and story.

Conceived, and made by Heather Taylor and Michelle Tsen

My (not so) exhastive list of things to do in New York

As I am halfway to completely moving to New York, I thought I’d reach out to you all to see what I should do here (especially as I love crowdsourcing so much). As in, if you were here, what would you go eat or see or do. I originally thought I’d do the top 100 things to do in Timeout but it’s all done by season or type of thing to do. I want a real mix.

So this is my to-do list thanks to you. I’ve put the person’s name beside the item they suggested and I’ll add a link when I write about my adventure there. I’m also blogging 50 walks of New York so make sure to keep an eye on that as well.

Anything I’m missing? Leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

101 Park Avenue (@nokia_fan)
53rd Street Berlin Wall: Between 520 Madison Ave building & Burger Heaven there are four segments of the Berlin Wall (@nokia_fan)
A salmon bagel from Russ & Daughters (@nokia_fan)
A show off Broadway in one of the smaller theatres followed by dinner in the Italian quarter (Nicky R)
Any chance you could see my brother for me? He lives in NYC and I have been remiss. (Dan W)
Barney Greengrass on Amsterdam W86th for old school brunch (Fiona W)
Baseball game and hot dogs! (Jess D)
Best Chinese food at: xi’an famous foods, east broadway,new york (@nokia_fan)
Bike ride or roller-skate in central park (Buffy S/Harjit R)
Blind Tiger (Justin D)
Blue Bottle: various locations (Justin D)
Book shopping south of Union Square (Laura K)
Brandy Library: I kinda feel like a millionaire whenever I visit this place (Justin D)
Brooklyn Bridge (@nokia_fan)
Brooklyn Library (Laura K)
Brooklyn Zoo (Laura K)
Bruce Springstein concert at Madison Square Gardens (Margo)
Brunch in Brooklyn (Laura K)
Candle 79 (Sarah M)
Candle Cafe (me)
Carnegie Hall (@nokia_fan)
Chelsea Piers: This place is where I had my sweet sixteen on the rock climbing and giant trampoline into a massive foam pit area (Sarah M)
Chrysler Building (@nokia_fan)
Clinton Street Bakery is a must! Perfect for Sunday morning brunch!(Tim B)
Cloisters (Jill A)
Cocktails & dinner at Tao (Harjit R)
Coney Island freakshow (Willard F)
Coppelia for brunch (Magnus H)
DBA (Justin D)
Do poetry in Greenwich Village (Buffy S/ Harjit R)
Earls Beer and Cheese: http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2011/earls-beer-and-cheese/ (Sarah M)
Eat a cupcake or 5! (Louise J)
Eat all the treats from Momofuko! (Sabine D)
Eat at one of the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives recommendations. Awesome. (TobyLauren B)
Empire State Building (@nokia_fan)
Epic Wine and Cheese at Casellula (Lauren R)
Fat Cat in Greenwich if you want a jazz club where you can grab a beer and play ping pong (Justin D)
Fatty Cue in West Village (Magnus H)
Films at the Angelika (Laura K)
Films at the IFC Center (Laura K)
Flatiron Building (@nokia_fan)
Frick Collection (Jess D/ Martin T)
Get a Grimaldis pizza (Alex M)
Go down to Princeton, sit in on a Paul Krugman lecture and ask him what countries are in an optimal EU currency area (Leigh C)
Go to antique boutique in union sq and buy a kilo of clothes for a dollar (Hannah K)
Go to the hotel Home Alone 2 was filmed in (Chris K)
Go to the Peanut Butter & Co place & order The Elvis (Ange M)
Gramercy Taven (Magnus H)
Grand Central Station (@nokia_fan)
Ground zero (World Trade Center memorial). Got to be worth a look.(Alex B/ Justin D)
Guggenheim Museum (@nokia_fan)
Have a liquid gold at Spitzer’s Corner, if you like beer. (Chris F)
High Line (Taylor D/ Kathryn C/ Justin D/ Karen R/ Magnus H)
Hitting balls in the cages at Battery Park (Ruth B)
Hockey Game (me)
I’m not sure if you’ll think this is really cool or crappy consumerism. I’m not sure if they still do this but if you buy something from American eagle in times square they’ll put you on their billboard. I happened on it by accident but got to be on a billboard in times square! (Leslie H)
Ippudo for Ramen (Magnus H)
Katz’s Deli (Linus G)
Live music/ film in Prospect Park (Laura K)
Lunch at Yurra & Co and then a stroll through the Design Museum on same street…. (Andrew R)
Meat packing district night out (Jess D)
MOMA (@nokia_fan)
MonkeyBar for cocktails on East 54th Street (Fiona W)
Nathan’s chilli hotdog coney island (Allan N)
NBC Studio 1A - Today Show (@nokia_fan)
New York Public (@nokia_fan)
Ninth Street Espresso: various locations (Justin D)
Paulie Gee’s in Green Point. In my opinion, it’s the best pizza in the 5 Boroughs. Not hard to get there. (Justin D)
PDT at Crif Dogs. You feel like superman going through the phone booth (@martinimummy)
Pony Bar (Justin D)
Queens Zoo (@nokia_fan)
Radegast in Williamsburg which is a german beer hall with great wurst. (Justin D)
Raines Law Room: Great cocktails, even better atmosphere. (Justin D)
Red Rooster: Oh my god this place is amazing. It’s up in Harlem, around 125th st. & Adam Clayton Powell or so. Obama visited there. (Justin D)
Rockefeller Center (@nokia_fan)
See the Knicks play (me)
Silvercup Studios (@nokia_fan)
Spend a day with a bunch of friends re-enacting, ‘The Warriors’ (Josh I)/ Ride the underground all the way to the stop where the gang eventually got home to in the film WARRIORS (come out to play!) (Paul M)
St Patrick’s Cathedral (@nokia_fan)
Strawberry Fields (@nokia_fan)
Stumptown at the Ace Hotel (Justin D)
Sub Mercer: you can only get in if you personally know the DJ for the evening. But if you can get in, it’s pretty chill, no cover, and a very nice place. (Justin D)
Take the ferry to Staten Island. Find a bar, drink a beer. The view of the city on the return journey is breathtaking! (Max D)
Tao on East 58th (Fiona W)
Tenement tour/ museum (Sarah M/ Dan M)
The boat tour gives a great history. There is one I believe that is put on by retired police and fireman I think…cannot remember the name for the life of me though. Something line… (Starr C)
The Breslin for the seafood sausage (Magnus H)
The Dizzy is my favorite in Columbus Circle. (Justin D)
The Islamic permanent collection at Metropolitan museum of art (Julia H)
The Metropolitan Opera (@nokia_fan)
The Unisphere in Queens (@nokia_fan)
The Way Station in Brooklyn. (Nicole)
Times Square (@nokia_fan)
United Nations (@nokia_fan)
Visit as many vintage/thrift stores as possible (Louise J)
Walk the Brooklyn bridge (Sara B)
Wandering through Lower East Side (Laura K)
Waters Edge River Boat (@nokia_fan)
Zabars (Jill A)

My first whoopie pie

I watch a lot of cooking shows and most of those are competitions. Masterchef, Top Chef, The Next Iron Chef. You get my drift. I’d say most of those dishes I’ve heard of or tried but whenever there is a dessert challenge in the US, there is inevitably a whoopie pie.

According to Wikipedia, “the whoopie pie is an American baked good that may be considered either a cookie, pie, or cake. It is made of two round mound-shaped pieces of chocolate cake, or sometimes pumpkin or gingerbread cake, with a sweet, creamy filling or frosting sandwiched between them.”

When I saw a vegan version in Whole Foods, I decided to try one.

It’s definitely a firm cookie shaped cake with a thick layer of white icing in the middle. It’s not too sticky and though it was a touch on the sweet side. I did eat it all (which I don’t usually do with super sweet desserts) but I don’t think I’ll have another. Not because it didn’t taste good. It’s just not my kind of dessert.

Now if you gave me pumpkin pie…

Blogging the walks of New York

At my leaving drinks, my lovely friend Alice gave this set of “50 New York walk” cards. Each card has one short tour set in different areas of New York. What genius. You take one card out with you - there’s a map, a few points for you to stop at and then you’re done.

Alice’s charge to me? Blog about them. So I am.

Starting this weekend, I’ll be blogging my way through these walks. I’ll take pictures and find food and drink along the way so if you want to take the walk too, you can. (I would still suggest buying a set of the cards. They are pretty - and useful).

After drawing a card 7th from the back as requested, I will be exploring the Met and Central Park. Lovely.

Let’s hope the weather holds. I’ll report back to you next week.

Come dine with Pipsdish

I fully recommend following any hand painted sign (unless it says “Free Candy. Kids only.”) Sophie and I followed one down an alley in Islington and came across the glorious Pipsdish at the Islington Barn, a pop-up restaurant in a converted garage. It’s there in partnership with a farm shop so not only can you eat great food there, you can buy something to take home.

Now I should have written this a week ago. My last post here says I’ll be writing once a day. Guess what? I haven’t. I like to think I can do everything, but packing house to move to another country and trying to see friends, work US hours-ish (and maybe even go on a date) takes its toll. Mostly my blog gets the brunt of this, along with my sleep, and any friends who I’ve meant to see this week but ran out of time. But let’s get back to Pipsdish shall we?


Pipsdish is one of a number of pop-ups, author and cook, Philip Dundas , has set up over the past couple of years. When you first come into the back courtyard, you see the farm shop but not the restaurant. If Philip hadn’t beaconed us in at the front of the alley, I don’t think I would have ventured further inside.


If you do decide to round the corner, you’ll find a tall grey haired man (yep. Philip) in a kerchief, stirring or chopping or mixing. Real records are playing on a real record player and there’s a seating area with tables and covered hay bales. It’s quite homey.

The first thing we noticed – no prices. There’s a 3 course meal for £25 but we just wanted a snack. I’ll be honest – with no sign we almost walked away. Almost. I hate asking how much something is. I once accidentally bought a £16 bottle of beer when I thought it looked cool but didn’t think to ask how much it would set me back.

During lunch, you pay what you think it’s worth. Now this is trickier than you think. Pay what you can you’ll never feel guilty as pay what you think it’s worth. £5 for my masterful creation? Pah.

Of course no one said that and no one would. But it’s definitely in your head. Especially with these meals.

Sophie had homemade chicken soup. What was amazing is that Sophie hates soup with chunks in it. Yet, she polished this off and raved about it. It came with pate on toast. I, the vegetarian, had stir-fried mixed vegetables. All freshly cut in front of me, my favourite was the sliced Brussel sprouts. They were sliced! Who would believe it was possible. It is. And it is the future. Mine came with a squash pate on toast. It tasted like a dream. If squash is what you equate with dreams. I didn’t before but I may now.

I would say, book a £25 course meal if you can. There’s dancing and music and fun. But if you are wandering around Islington, I’d say go in, say hi and eat some great, freshly cooked food. We paid £15 for our meal, but honestly I’d have paid much, much more. It was if I walked into my mom’s kitchen, except it was the 1940s and my mom was a professional chef. It was that good. Go. Check in on Foursquare. Tell your friends. Say I sent you. Or better yet, take me with you.

Get your mango fix at MADD

As a middle of January resolution, I decided to write a daily blog post. Most people want to hear about coffee and food they can get in New York - the non-touristy places. Since I’m not in New York until next week, I’ll start with MADD (Mango Addiction), a new dessert lounge just off Shaftsbury Avenue.

[caption id=”attachment_1575” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”Jonathan really loves mangos.”][/caption]

Dessert lounge you ask? Yes. A dessert lounge. A concept mostly known in Singapore and Thailand, this is the perfect place for someone with a sweet tooth. It’s theme, as you can tell by the name, is mangos. Mango puddings, cakes, dessert bowls, cocktails and smoothies. The front of the shop glows with it’s yellowy-orange flesh.


Jonathan Sivak, co-owner of Mango Addiction, gave me a little background on this new addition to the London landscape when I stopped in for a coffee and a double chocolate brownie (ironic - yes - and mostly eaten by my mate Nick). Little did I know but mangos, which are grown around the equator, are always in season. So if you follow the adage that food has more nutrients when in season, then mangos are perfect to eat anytime.

Their grand plan is to open locations in London then move to China and perhaps the West coast of North America, where this type of bar is more common, but they’ll come with a European twist, and an established brand.

[caption id=”attachment_1576” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”They were rebelling from the mango brand”][/caption]

So for those of you looking to find a respite from the pubs and like a sweet bite to end your work day, do stop by MADD. I thought the coffee was spot on. I like it strong and the brownie, was gooey in the middle and crispy on the outside. I’m going to assume anything mango flavoured was even superior. It also has free-wifi and retro games, like Connect Four and Jenga, on every table. The one thing lacking in my eyes, is a bit of the savory stuff. Something bready would hit the spot. But as it’s a dessert lounge, that’s only my tastebuds talking.

Go check them out at 53 Rupert Street in Soho or on Twitter @wearemadd.

PS A little side not for the team. If they do decide to go to the US and Canada, they may have to rethink the name. MADD stands for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. A great cause but not something I associate with mangos.

My first week in New York - food, food, food!

As I sit in Newark International Airport on my way to London, I thought I’d reflect on my first week in New York.

It’s been a strange trip for me as this is going to be one week of many in New York. By March, I should be fully settled into New York as a Brooklyn resident working in Manhattan. So I didn’t go nuts on the touristy stuff and instead just enjoyed myself (in a slightly jet-lagged state). I did make it to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and am now officially a member. At $25 a visit, the $70 annual membership (including free films) seemed cheap.


The sublet I got through my friend Hannah is cozy but also creaky, old and the walls are paper-thin. It’s one of those old houses where the tub won’t drain, and the electricity shorts out, but the area is good, easy to get to and my flatmate Catherine seems really great. She’s a content producer for an education station as well as a poet. We had a natter yesterday and I know we’ll get on just fine. My landlord is planning on some renovations so I’ll probably only be there till April or May when I’ll get my own place.

I work just off Union Square in a space called Tech:Space. A number of start-ups and small companies are based there. On my first day, I was taking the lift down with another girl. I introduced myself and we got to talking. When I asked where she worked, she responded “Oh you probably haven’t heard of us. Do you know Technorati?” Yep. I have. Blogger resource I’ve used a million times and they are 3 offices away. Ace.

My team is great and most are new to the company which means we’ll all be shaping the way the company goes in the US. This is a million times easier than being the last one in or coming into a well-oiled team where you have to prove yourself – inevitably they will bring up all the ways your predecessor had done what you are doing. Like the sheen you give to a long departed ex, everything they did was amazing.

Outside of work and home, most of my activities revolved around food. Here are my top 5 in the food department this week:

1. Lunch
   There are tons of food places around my office. One of the two top places I found were the 24 hour deli with the most humongous food counters. Hot and cold food galore, including Vegan Dumplings, BBQ tofu and greens.
   
   Second place I went to a trendy hole in the wall where they serve Cambodian sandwiches called Num Pang. There are a few seats upstairs but most people queued at an open window for their sandwich. They are a bit on the pricey end but I couldn’t resist trying the catfish. Ever since my first encounter with Cajun food and especially after my time in New Orleans, I have to order catfish if I see it on the menu. The sandwich was small but tasty – more coriander than I thought would be good, but it was lovely and fresh with the grilled fish. Yep – all grilled and not fried. A big bonus for me.
   
   
2. Korea town
   After a photography exhibition at a coffee shop near Madison Avenue, I headed to Korea town with some filmmakers (and the photographer whose show we were at). We all went to Arirang Korean for kimchee cakes to share and the specialty - soup.
   
   I had the seafood combo which is a combination of long noodles and “dough flakes” which are square flat noodles. I liked the noodles but there was way too much broth and the squid was a bit overcooked. I’d try it again mainly because I was jet lagged and food never tastes quite right when you are out of sorts. So I’ll reserve my main judgement for another time but will rate it 3 stars for my experience that night.
   
   
3. Secret cocktail bar
   Supposedly there are a number of these places dotted around New York. Little hidden speakeasies. Now, this may be frustrating to some of you, but I’m not telling you where this is. Yep. No telling from me. If you come and visit, I’ll take you there. I tried Cousin Mary (the first Bloody Mary I’ve EVER liked.) And a Passion Dance which had Jalapeno-infused Tequila and coriander. Which, once again, tasted great. Maybe it’s all about the coriander…
   
   
4. Sushi
   Supposedly, during the really bad moments of the recession in New York, a lot of sushi restaurants in the East Village had all their sushi on 50% off. Luckily for us, more than one place still has this amazing deal including the fantastic Village Yokocho in Japan town. We over indulged to point of sleepiness on quality fish and whatnot. Everything was extremely fresh and the shrimp Tempura roll was to die for. We even went for a second order! I can’t wait to try the adjacent streets of Thai, Indian and my personal favourite, Ukrainian!
   
   
5. Beer! And Coffee!
   I’m going to say something controversial. I’ve been enjoying the craft beer that the states have to offer. I’ve tried the Goosehead IPA, Dogfish Head and a few others. I’m actually looking forward to my Brooklyn Brewery tour. I promise none of them will ever replace Brewdog but until they open up in New York I’ll have to make due with places like, Good Beer, in the East Village:
   
   I’m also trying all the coffee joints around work. So far my hands down fav (so far) is Joe’s Coffee. Too small really to plan to meet someone there but great for a take away. And your 11th coffee is free. As it’s near The New School, I’d probably avoid 3 onwards if you’re in a hurry. It took almost 15-20 minutes to get an Americano Misto. But it sure was tasty. And don’t forget to bring cash - they don’t take cards!

Little adventures to start myself off and there’s only more to come – comedy, theatre, food, events, meet-ups – the whole shebang.

PS Stopped by Magnolia Bakery near 30 Rock. Though it was cute and everything looked beautiful, I ate a bit of the cake itself (red velvet if you please) but it was a bit dry to be honest.

As I couldn’t eat the icing, maybe it would have added more moisture. But for me, it was too much icing and the cake was dry. Not quite what I expected from the mecca of cupcakes. Please don’t hate me everyone.

On the way to New York (and new beginnings)

[caption id=”attachment_1562” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”The Hallelujah moment.”][/caption]

As we approached New York, the sun broke through the clouds Very new beginnings-esque. I have to admit I was teary as I watched the water sparkle under us. I was arriving in the place I’ll soon call home. This is step one. I’ve come over to meet my US colleagues and will spend the first week in my new home.

[caption id=”attachment_1562” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”So many cabs, so little time.”][/caption]

I’m in a New York cab and I’m trying to sound like I know where I’m going. My landlord and new flatmate gave me directions so hopefully I’ll make it there all OK.

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to be feeling. I’m in the in-between place. I had my leaving do where I cried too much, packed bags to come to NY for a week and then I’m back again to the UK as I sort my visa. But it’s exciting to have a bed and a roof and new shops and coffee haunts to try out.

I know this isn’t going to be easy nor is it going to be the same. I’ve moved continents before and though I do see some people from back home still, it’s mostly my family and a few good friends. There are so many amazing people in my life in the UK, I don’t want to lose that connection to them. I love that I can go out in London and run into someone I know.

But maybe now that we’re in a different age, I’ll keep those connections. Facebook, Twitter, Skype, etc, etc, will make those people closer than they would have been even 5 years ago. It’s just about making the time. And having space to be with new friends and old. Hello New York. Pleased to meet you.

[caption id=”attachment_1562” align=”aligncenter” width=”300” caption=”A view from my office - how more New York can you get?”][/caption]

No bought noodles New Years resolution

So as we wandered Paris yesterday we discussed my Kryptonite - cheap noodles. You know the kind. 35p noodle packs that come from the newsagent. I’ve been addicted since I was a kid and they truly hit the spot. I’ve had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner - they go good with any kind of day.

But they are oh so bad for you. So bad.

As I start toward my half-marathon/ marathon training, I’m quite aware that I need to eat better. My cousin and I have made a “lose 25 pounds by 16th April” pact, I’m determined to drink the right amount of water every day and I am running 3 times a week starting this week. WITHOUT FAIL. So this means the days of the quick and unhealthy snack of empty calorie, MSG filled noodles, are over. (as are crisps but that’s a given)

Instead, I’m going to make my own.

In preparation for this mission, I headed over to Recipease in Clapham to take their Pasta Making course.



All you need are eggs and ‘00’ grade flour. Though often recipes call for a larger quantity, we made a small batch of pasta (as in, could feed 3-4 people) using 2 eggs and 200g of flour.


First you put the flour in a largish bowl, then add the eggs in the centre. Poke the yolks with a fork and stir the egg in by stirring around the outside and pulling the flour into the middle where the eggs are. Keep stirring until the mixture resembles scrambled eggs.  You then tilt the bowl a bit to the side, drag your fork through the mixture and pull it into the side of the bowl. This will get the lumps out and mix the flour into the egg better.

Don’t worry if all the flour doesn’t make it into the dough.  It all depends on the moisture in the air. The more moist it is, the more flour the dough will take, and the less moisture, the less flour it will take. Get me?

Once it’s mixed enough, it’s time to kneed. A great way to get some aggression out.

Place the ball of dough on the table, hold the side closest to you and stretch it out with the heel of your hand. fold it back over towards you, turn 90 degrees and do it again. Keep doing that until you can’t see a divot when you poke the ball of dough. It should just bounce right back.

Wrap that sweet ball of goodness with plastic wrap (get out all the air) and put it in the fridge. This can be for 5 minutes or a few hours but don’t leave it too long or it will dry out.

This is the perfect time to start making your sauce and to get your water on to boil.

Your sauce is now simmering, so it’s now time to roll the dough out into pasta. First thing first. You got to silkify the dough.*


Using your pasta maker on setting 6, you roll half your ball of dough through the machine, fold in half and roll it through again. If it’s sticky, add a bit of flour before you fold but ONLY if it’s sticky. Remember, we don’t want to dry it out. Another tip is to never feed in the dough with the fold at the top. This will trap air in your pasta dough which will burst your pasta when you cook it. Kaboom.

Once the dough feels silky smooth to the touch, you’ve silkified it! Tadah! Now you need to run it through the machine once at each setting from 6 down to 2 (if you are making ravioli, then go to setting one as you double the pasta).

At this point, you can run the long, flat dough through the cutter. It’s 500 times easier if you cut the pasta dough in half first.


As you cut the pasta into noodles, flour it so it doesn’t stick together. You can either freeze it (lasts for months), dry it (lasts for a couple weeks) or cook it (only takes a couple of minutes).

Tasty! And so begins the year of homemade pasta.

*Yes. Silkify is not a word. But I don’t know what else to call it.