Saw Romeo et Juliette at the Met. Featured Natalie Dessay as Juliette and Ramon Vargas as Romeo. Other standouts included Kristinn Sigmundsson (bass-baritone) as Friar Laurence and Theodora Hanslowe (mezzo) as the page Stephano. This was a new production by Guy Joosten, with sets designed by Johannes Leiacker. The design took an astronomical theme, with a large round portal at the rear that simulated the view through a telescope. A lovely Act 4 in Juliette's bedroom featured a bed suspended from the ceiling amidst a dark starry night background, with its pure white bed sheets billowing in the wind.

See the New York Times review here.

Today's Krugman column in the New York Times: adverse selection in the market for health insurance.

Jeff and Katie here this weekend...(pictures)

Fri: drinks at Volde Nuit (the Belgian Beer Bar), and dinner at Kittichai (Soho). Sat: breakfast at the Eat Here Now, long walks in Central Park, the Empire State Building (again), shopping, drinks in the Village at Boxers Bar and Grill (W 4th) and dinner at Surya (wonderful Indian food); cupcakes from Magnolia Cafe (Bleecker Street at 11th). Sun: a trip over to Roosevelt Island, more shopping, and pizza at John's (64th Street).

Sunday concerts: (1) saw a wonderful afternoon performance of the American Boychoir at St. James Church, 865 Madison Avenue. Favorites included Ave Maria (Richard Clark), I Am His Child (Moses Hogan), and Weep No More (David Childs).

and (2) the Opera Orchestra of New York's William Tell (with the New York Choral Society) at Carnegie Hall. Marcello Giordani was a phenomenal Arnold; Marco Chingari was William Tell. Ellie Dehn sang Jemmy (the son of William Tell) and perhaps the most beautiful aria in the opera in Act III (which--strangely--is usually not performed).

A brief bio of Russell Sage...

Russell Sage 1815–1906, American financier, b. Oneida co., N.Y. He was successful in the grocery business in Troy, N.Y. Active in public affairs, he became (1845) alderman of Troy and served (1853–56) as a Whig member of Congress. He continued to amass great wealth by banking, and after moving (1863) to New York City he engaged in stock speculation. In association with Jay Gould, he gained extensive financial control in several Western railroads, in the elevated railway system in New York City, and in the Western Union Telegraph Company. An attempt to assassinate him in 1891 failed, resulting in the death of the would-be assassin, Henry Norcross. Upon Sage's death, the distribution of his fortune was left in the hands of his widow, Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, 1828–1918. She made large gifts to the Emma Willard School and to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy; established Russell Sage College; and donated money to other educational organizations and to benevolent societies. Marsh Island in the Gulf of Mexico was bought by her in 1912 and given to Louisiana as a bird sanctuary. The great single benefaction was the establishment (1907) of the Russell Sage Foundation in New York City. This institution, endowed with a total of $15 million for "the improvement of social and living conditions" in the United States, did pioneer work in cooperating with various social agencies. In addition to conducting research activities in social welfare, public health, education, government, and law, the foundation has also been concerned with the possibilities of increased use of social-science techniques in the practicing professions.

A new book on the history of urban sprawl, reviewed by Witold Rybczynski in Slate.

A map of political contributions to the 2004 presidential election, by size, by building, in Upper Manhattan.

There is a drop-down menu at the top left to view a few other cities (and larger Manhattan). If there were such thing as a "red state" in manhattan--I'm probably living in it. In a look at contributions from residents of the Royale (of $200 or more), Republicans received more contributions, $26,000 to $7,750 (names are viewable by searching by address here).

This weekend: more Fall walks in the park, and checked out the NYC marathon (pictures here). Took the tram over to Roosevelt Island for a view of the marathon from above, and a view of (foggy) Manhattan from the island.

Tonight: the annual black-tie board of trustees dinner at the Russell Sage Foundation. Afterward, martinis at the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center. First round of photos are posted here.

A recent paper on the 2004 election by William Nordhaus (Yale):

"The 2004 election has been interpreted as a resounding victory for conservative values. Was it in fact a mandate? The present analysis examines recent electoral outcomes and the 2004 election with particular reference to economic and political fundamentals. Looking at both aggregate results and exit polls since 1972, it examines three models of performance relative to economic and political fundamentals. Additionally, it identifies the trends for different socio-economic groups. It concludes that the Republican candidate in 2004 did significantly worse than would be predicted based on economic and political fundamentals."

A recent legislative history of school funding bills in Texas