Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen is closing next week. For real this time*. So hurry over to 130 Saint Marks Place (between 1st Ave and Anvenue A) to get your old-school vegan goodies!

While their real website says nothing about the situation, there are regular updates happening on the Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen Facebook page. Sounds like the last day to shop there is Monday, December 24, and “if you don’t have Christmas plans early in the day please consider coming by to help Peter get ready for the auction.”

According to statement sent to us by Fran Luck, a friend of the restaurant,

[On December 15th] in court, Peter Sylvestri owner/creator of the Whole Earth Vegan Bakery on St. Marks Place, was forced to sign a stipulation that he would vacate the premises of the Whole Earth Vegan Bakery by January 15. His lawyer advised him that signing would buy him a month, whereas if he went to trial, he would probably wind up evicted within a week from the old-style Lower East Side store where he’d baked his wonderful original vegan concoctions for close to 30 years,

Peter had fallen into arrears totaling over $40,000, representing 8 months of his outrageous $5,300 rent. Peter told me tonight that when the rent had been $3,000. he could just about eke by. But this wasn’t high enough for Ronald S. Friedman, who owns many properties in the gentrifying “East Village” and the rapacious landlord tried to squeeze another $2,000. a month out of Peter.

For a prime spot on Saint Mark’s Place near Tompkins Square Park, $5,300 a month doesn’t sound all that crazy these days. It’s too bad Whole Earth has to close completely, rather than moving to a neighborhood more like what the East Village was 30 years ago

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen always felt like a throwback to an earlier era, even when I started going there in the mid-1990s. They didn’t grow and change much with their neighborhood, or with advances in vegan baking. This kept some customers very happy, but left a lot of others mystified (a living museum of 1970s health-food cookery just isn’t going to please everyone). Personally, while I’ve never been too impressed with Whole Earth’s sweets, I’ve always really enjoyed their savory food. And they did rearrange the interior a few times, making it into a much more welcoming space. If you haven’t been there in a few years (you know who you are), drop by this weekend.

I’ve always quite liked this illustration of Whole Earth by “Mihoko who is from Japan”. I hope no one minds me sharing it here. Goodbye Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen, and thanks for blazing a path for all the vegan bakeries and kitchens that have followed in your footsteps!

RIP, m’lady.

Without any ado, Quarrygirl.com, a much appreciated vegan blog out of Los Angeles, shuttered last week. Redirecting to her twitter feed, which she is tweeting from regularly, the unidentified vegan blogstress seems to have had an epiphany whilst attending a Morissey concert to the effect of, “enough is enough.” After four years, her term is apparently over.

We at SuperVegan would like to thank Quarrygirl and her contributing writers for what was (and still is, in its archived form) a tremendous resource for vegan eating. Operation Pancake?! I mean, c’mon! That was ah-mazing! Blogging is hard hard work, and often goes unrecognized, so thanks thanks thanks for all of yours! We hope you enjoy your early retirement and wish you the best of luck with whatever you get yourself into next, a lifetime of delicious vegan food to feast on, and maybe a pony? I dunno, something nice.

In the meantime, gentle readers, if you’d like us at SuperVegan to pick up where QG left off, create a LA Restaurant Guide, or something else only you have thought of, please let us know! Leave a comment, it’s easy, and we really like hearing from you!

• Not that you need an excuse to shop, but Mooshoes is celebrating its 10th anniversary this Saturday, Dec. 3, with a 15% discount on all in-store purchases, plus beverages and snacks from Blossom du Jour and Dun-Well Doughnuts.
• Veg Blog has released the third installment of its vegan business profile series, this time featuring cookbook publisher Heritage Press.
• On Wednesday, Dec. 7, head over to Pianos on the Lower East Side for some Freerange Nonfiction and listen while Hannah Tinti, Alison Espach and Alison Smith read from their animal-related books. The event’s $8 cover will directly benefit Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. For more information on this and other happenings in New York City, check out our Events Calendar.
• Speaking of farmed animals, Mercy for Animals has uncovered yet more abuse, this time by Sparboe Egg Farms, the supplier of McDonald’s eggs.
• In other atrocities, the USDA released its 2010 Dairy Checkoff Report, and the results are, well, atrocious: In 2009, $108 million was spent promoting milk, while $283 million was used to push dairy products like cheese. Is this really how we want our tax money spent?
• On a lighter note: Sending out holiday cards? Be sure to order a book of PETA’s stamps featuring veggie celebs, now through January. The stamps, which can be purchased online, are available as of today and feature famous faces such as Woody Harrelson, Chrissie Hynde, Bob Barker and Morrissey, plus historical notables including da Vinci, Tolstoy and Pythagoras. Celebs aren’t always the most consistent carrot eaters, but they do help expose the mainstream to the cause.
• Maybe PETA will consider dedicating a stamp to five-year veghead Jessica Chastain. She’s not the only vegan to make people think the chicken she was chomping was “real.”
• For the young compassionate people in your life: The Vegetarian Resource Group is giving away two $5,000 college scholarships to vegetarian high schoolers graduating in the spring of 2012. If you know a senior who lives and promotes the veg lifestyle, make sure he or she applies by Feb. 20.
• The Clash’s Paul Simonon was arrested earlier this year while working undercover as a vegetarian cook for Greenpeace. He might not have been a vegan pirate cook fighting whalers, but protesting against Artic oil offenders gets a thumbs-up too.
• Jane Brody wrote about vegans’ favorite vitamin in The New York Times: Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Cause Symptoms That Mimic Aging.
• Arms dealer Viktor Bout, the closest thing to a real-life James Bond villain, is demanding vegan meals in jail.
• Last, I’m sad to say that Marti Kheel has died. I had the privilege of hearing the ecofeminist and the author of Nature Ethics speak a few years ago, and her message was inspiring. RIP, Marti.

Yes, the hot food can be pretty brown. But the salad bar is green and fresh as can be!

After six years hidden in the basement of the Equitable Building at 120 Broadway, Little Lad’s Basket is being kicked out. Their last definite day in the current location will be next Thursday, August 11.

They are very serious about reopening elsewhere as soon as they can, but given the cutthroat vagaries of the NYC real estate and restaurant markets, who knows when that might be. So go eat there this week! I hope they have the “Crafty” mac and cheese and unlimited guacamole when you go!!

In addition to being awesome in it’s own right, Little Lad’s is by far the best option for vegan food in the Financial District (fighting for second place we have Sam’s and Alan’s falafel carts, Chipotle, and Hale & Hearty; not much). Little Lad’s is planning to stay in the neighborhood, where their customers already know and love them. (Those waiting for affordable, quality vegan food in Midtown will have to keep on waiting.)

If you’re unfamiliar with LLB, it’s a vegan lunch and breakfast spot, offering both à la carte options and an all-you-can eat buffet. The buffet is the main attraction, with lunch at $6.50 (including tax) and breakfast for about $4 (feel free to comment with the actual price; I haven’t been for breakfast since the latest price rise and Little Lads’s website is out of date.) For breakfast, you get potatoes, scramble, oatmeal, bagels, toast, “buttah” spread, and fruit. For lunch, expect a couple of soups, a great salad bar, a hot table full of brown comfort food, and fresh fruit with granola and “sweet cream” for dessert. Plus, free wifi.

Part of the magic of Little Lad’s is how hard it is to find and how bizarre their space is. For about a year there’s been a small sign in the lobby. But before that, the descent was something of a leap of faith–could there really be a vegan restaurant down there? And once you’ve descended that majestic marble staircase, the restaurant occupies a rambling warren of subterranean galleries, equally charming and surreal. Obviously it will be a good thing if their new space is easier to find, and maybe has some daylight, but I doubt I’m the only one who will miss the current spot.

It’s a Seventh Day Adventist establishment, and in addition to no animal products, they serve no chocolate, no coffee (breakfast customers beware!), no baking powder, no baking soda, and no fermented items (including vinegar, but they still make awesome salad dressings). While the checkout area has materials advocating eating fewer (and ending subsidies for) animal products, I’ve never noticed any proselytizing on behalf of Seventh Day Adventism.

For a bit more background and a sense of exactly how hard-working and tireless owner Larry Fleming and his staff and family are, I recommend this New York Observer article.

I had a brief chat with Larry today. When I asked if he had anything he wanted me to include in this post, his emphatic response was: “Refuse to be served garbage.” Amen! And big thanks to Little Lad’s for making it so much easier to follow this great advice. Let’s hope they reopen really soon.

SuperVegan’s Presidential Debate Party at Red Bamboo Brooklyn in 2008

2010 was not only tough on the U.S. economy but also on the NYC veg restaurant scene. Some new restaurants opened last year, but in this post we’ll review all the sad (and not-so-sad) losses of 2010. Of those that closed, these are three of the biggest losses:

Red Bamboo Brooklyn
Closed in January 2010, it came as a big shock since the place generally always had a crowd. It was the lone veg restaurant in Ft. Greene in its time, and one of the few 100% vegetarian restaurants anywhere that had a large space great for a crowd along with a full bar. It held many poignant veg memories-the Satya farewell party as well as the SuperVegan-sponsored presidential debate and election night parties in 2008, and the biggest reason why it’s such a great loss? Well, because the closing seemed rather….senseless-the owners at the time cited the rising expense of soy (huh?) so the place is still a restaurant with the same owners but serves meat and retains a few of the Red Bamboo menu items.

Cosmic Cantina
Many of you may not have had the enjoyment of trying a burrito at Cosmic Cantina in the East Village. They specialized in fresh, mostly organic ingredients, served cocktails, and were open until 4am. The owner had a compassionate epiphany at the beginning of 2010 and converted the place from conventional to 100% vegetarian. With its closure in June went the only strictly veg, delicious, close to authentic Cal-Mexican place in town.

Madras Café
Last but not least, Madras Café–also in the East Village, a veg staple for 20 years. While there are many Kosher vegetarian Indian places in the city, Madras Café was a standout. They designated all the vegan items on the menu, welcomed large parties, and most importantly made a good vegan mango lassi (which can be surprisingly hard to find in this city of plentiful vegan dosa and curry offerings).

Other 2010 closures include:
24 Carrots Organic Juice Bar
Caserta Vecchia
D’Ital Shak
Eskimix
Green Melody
Ghenet Ethiopian (Manhattan)
Karen’s On Astor
Little Buddy Biscuit Company
The Lucky Cat
Quantum Leap (Queens)
Rice-Lexington Ave
SproutCraft Cafe
SuRa
Victory Bhavan

Closed but replaced by other veg establishments:
Blossom Bistro (replaced by V-Note )
Organic Heights replaced by Sun in Bloom
Tamilnadu Bhavan (replaced previous veg Indian restaurant Saravana Bhavan Dosa Hut and rest assured the location still has a veg Indian restaurant by the name of Bhojan

While not exactly gone, these restaurants went from 100% veg to serving meat but still retain some vegan options, alas they are added to the mourning list too:
Chennai (UES)
Dang Lai Palace
Hummus Kitchen(UES)

Benny’s Pizzeria no longer has vegan pizza options-all crusts have butter in them and overall the place is no longer very vegan friendly.

Last call, Counter is preparing to shutter it’s doors in February 2011 so be sure to get in one last trip.

Be sure to visit The Graveyard and share your memories of your now closed favorite veg restaurants.

What places closed this year that you miss the most? Which will you miss the least? Did we miss any in our list? Tell us about it below!

Haven’t had one in ages, but I just started missing their Route 66 and Lost in Austin burritos.

Earlier this week, all of the dozen or so Burritovilles left in the city abruptly closed. Yesterday, The New York Times’ Tina Kelley quotes an owner of a jewelry store next to the Burritoville on Water Street: “A couple of days ago the workers, the chefs and delivery boys showed up around 10 in the morning and were waiting on the stoop out front. Eventually they went home because no one showed up to open the store.”

If you think you’ve heard of something similar happening at another veg-friendly establishment, you’re right.

Burritoville was founded and later sold by Steve Lynn and David LaPointe (who, now with his wife, Jean LaPointe owns Curly’s Vegetarian Lunch). They (and another partner Bob Salamack) also started Veg-City Diner which had a 14th Street and Sixth Ave location and another at Third Ave off 9th Street.

The Third Ave location opened just days before the 9/11 attacks and shuttered weeks after. The remaining Veg-City Diner on 14th Street remained open for another couple years and had quite a following before it abruptly closed due to a reported kitchen fire. (It was Veg-City Diner, with its incredible revolving vegan cakes display, that made Danielle Konya’s VeganTreats famous.)

Strangely enough, some waiters and chefs who worked at the Veg-City Diner reported that they had not been paid for weeks before that fire. And those who were owed wages couldn’t identify anyone who supposedly worked the day the fire reportedly happened. (Bear in mind that Veg-City Diner was a 24-Hour establishment.)

Days after Veg-City Diner shuttered, employees and customers were informed via a sign taped to the gate that the restaurant will re-open soon. But it never happened. Last I heard, a few persistent workers received some payment of back wages, but some never recovered any payment.

More from the Times article: “Burritoville’s Web site has closed, its various phones are either constantly busy or unanswered, and the company president, Jonathan Bernstein, could not be reached for comment. A woman who returned a message on the company’s behalf, identifying herself only as a member of Burritoville’s ‘executive management,’ said the chain would reopen several stores in the next two weeks.”

Let’s hope the many hard-working Burritoville workers will not be screwed – especially considering the tough economic times we’re in.

Victimless Leather, part of the Design and the Elastic Mind exhibit at MoMA.

Some things that raise interesting questions have been collecting in my browser tabs bar. I thought I’d share them with you.

• There’s a thorough post over at U.S. Food Policy about the scope of meat in rising food costs. It takes into account the rising cost of animal feed (and competition from the biofuels industry) and also the dramatic increases in meat consumption, especially in developing nations.
• A turtle named Myrtle, who was well known in the backyards of her block in Williamsburg was painted pink, presumably by some construction workers. It became quite a local “human interest” story. It seems like Myrtle will be OK, which is great, but I’m sure that most of those sympathizing with her story would have no moral qualms eating turtle soup.
• I’ve been noticing a similar disconnect in regards to Eight Belles, the racehorse who was driven to her death last week at the Kentucky Derby. The mainstream seems sort of upset about the abuse and effective murder of Eight Belles, but not really enough to realize that horse racing can be just as evil as their favorite bugaboo, dog fighting.
• And finally, Paola Antonelli, a curator at the Museum of Modern Art has “killed” a piece by artists Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr called Victimless Leather. The tiny jacket-shaped object/creature was made of mouse stem cells and was kept alive via a nutrient tube. It (I actually feel OK using an inanimate pronoun here) grew faster than expected and clogged its own life-support system. Says Antonelli:
  

  [It] started growing, growing, growing until it became too big. And [the artists] were back in Australia, so I had to make the decision to kill it. And you know what? I felt I could not make that decision. I’ve always been pro-choice and all of a sudden I’m here not sleeping at night about killing a coat…That thing was never alive before it was grown.

  I wonder how Antonelli thinks other “things” become alive?

At Schnäck

These are sad days for vegan hot dog fans. Dash Dogs on the Lower East Side has closed, and Schnäck (on the wrong side of the BQE in Carroll Gardens) is about to close. I haven’t eaten at Schnäck yet, but I hope get there before they’re gone for good.

I’ve been burned a couple of times recently trying to find cheap, filling late-night food on the Lower East Side. “Let’s just go to Dash Dogs!” Nope. It’s strictly crappy falafel and potato chips from now on. Like I needed another reason to avoid that neighhborhood. Dash (and soon Schnäck) joins Broome Dogs and Sparky’s in our Restaurant Graveyard.

So, looking at our Vegan Hot Dog Map of New York City, it looks like the main games left in town are Crif Dogs, Willie’s Dawgs, and I guess the various F&Bs. Lots of restaurants may have a veggie dog on the menu, but there’s something special about places where it’s the centerpiece. Are we missing any veg-friendly dog joints?

From reader Linda and also the New York Press via Brooklyn Vegan, comes news that Flatbush’s Veggie Castle will be closed after today, December 24, 2007. Today is the last day. And I’m out of town, so I can’t even go for a goodbye binge. But you should go swarm the place!

The end of a 10-year lease is to blame, according to Cindy Bernard, daughter of owner Viburt Bernard. She said the landlord wanted to sell the lot to someone who plans to tear down the building and develop a new commercial space. In the meantime, “distraught” describes the mood among her regulars.

Veggie Castle was truly unique place, and the novelty factor (a White Castle taken over by Rastas) was backed up by delicious, inexpensive, food. We’ll miss you!

Happy Halloween and Day of the Dead from all of us at Team SuperVegan! We’ve been busy in our lairs and dungeons and mad science labs, and we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the New York City Vegan Restaurant Graveyard. This is a special section of our site providing an eternal resting place for all the restaurants in our database that have closed. Old reviews remain visible, and you can still leave new ones– eulogize your martyred heroes and curse your vanquished foes in the war for decent eats.

Some notable recent additions include Zen Palate’s Union Square location (they just closed, citing an “unreasonable rent increase”) and Brooklyn Heights mainstay The Green’s.

The Graveyard is currently populated with places that have closed since we started SuperVegan in early 2006. Over time, we may add older places that live on in our hearts. (O Bachué! O Helianthus! How I miss thee!) Where do restaurants go when they die? Now you know.

Enjoy, and let us know what you think!

Animal rights activist and stage actress Gretchen Wyler died last week from complications of breast cancer at the age of 75. Wyler, who is known for such Broadway hits as Guys and Dolls and Damn Yankees, first became interested in animal rights in the 60s when she spent time at dog pounds visiting with abused and abandoned animals. Her inspiration lead her to become a prominent figure in the ASPCA where she later became the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors. Among her many accomplishments were the 1981 movement to eliminate “pound seizure,” or the selling of sheltered animals for use in medical experimentation, her influence of animal-rights activism in Hollywood pop culture and her work with The Ark Trust, an organization she founded to which most of her efforts were later invested. In her lifetime, Wyler worked with over a dozen animal advocacy organizations. She will be remembered and missed for her direct action against standard cruel practices and her passion for the animal world.

Read Alex’s Story

Mommies and daddies of victims of the Menu Foods pet food recall have started a Flickr group, and a new blog, Menu Foods Victims, has also been created to post photos and stories. Please note that the Menu recall has been expanded and other manufacturers have joined voluntarily. The new list includes dry cat food by Hill’s as well as dog and cat treats by Del Monte.

In addition to photos and stories, the Flickr group has links to several petitions (one at the popular PetitionSite.com), a class action lawsuit group, and online as well as over-the-telephone grief counseling. There are also links to organizations that help with vet bills, and an up-to-the-minute list of foods added to the recall (and the sources of that information).

Eyeing cupcakes from Little Vegan Monsters

• We mourn the passing of Sara Whalen of Catskills no-kill shelter Pets Alive. Sara saved thousands of animals, and should be an inspiration to us all.
• Ryan at the Veg Blog’s Tips for New Vegans: Restaurants reminds us that “veganism’s not about sacrifice, it’s about doing what you know is right.”
• His advice is no help for Pamela Anderson, as Hooters prevents her from hosting a faux-winged book-launch party for PETA.
• I’m scared to eat at Hooters, and even more scared of trying eat in meat-laden foreign countries. But here’s some great vegetarian travel roundups for Moscow and Buenos Aires.
• Vegan actress Emily Deschanel tries to convert David Boreanaz to veganism. (I know, a few readers are thrilled to hear this; everyone else is shrugging.)
• And only movie stars can afford the hot new vegan footwear from Mink shoes.
• Remember that vegan cupcake eating contest in New Haven? Read all about it and see the shirtless carnage.
• There are stories running around on less reliable news sites that mad scientists have created a sheep that’s 15% human (in it’s internal organs). I’m not convinced it really happened, but it’s scary to think about!
• The metaphor of the week award goes to Dennis Kucinich, for his quote about facing Fox News: “I have to be ready to go into the lion’s den. I’m a vegetarian and a vegan — I mean, maybe the lion doesn’t want to eat me because I’m a vegan.” How can you not love the guy!

We’ll miss you, Satya!

The June/July 2007 issue of Satya will be the last. The venerable magazine, which espoused the often intertwined virtues of “Vegetarianism, Environmentalism, Animal Advocacy, and Social Justice,” has been a mainstay of the New York City scene. It’s unlikely that anyone will fill their newsprint-scented footsteps at the entrance of so many stores and restaurants.

They haven’t announced exactly why they’re closing up shop, but Publisher Beth Gould mentions the desire to focus “attention and energy to other interests and projects” and also cites the inevitable expensive and labor of regularly publishing a print magazine. I’m sure there are great things to come from the entire Satya team and we thank them for the support they’ve lent SuperVegan in our relative infancy!

They’re collecting submissions now for the final issue, “A-ha! Moments that Changed Your Life.” Get in touch with them to contribute your “essays reflecting on the central tenets of Satya … about your own life-altering moments; who or what has changed your life, or what changes you have brought about through activism.”

Read Beth Gould’s complete letter below.

Dear Friends,

I am writing to inform you of some changes happening at Satya Magazine. The upcoming issue will cover April and May. The next issue, June/July 2007, will be Satya’s last.

When I co-founded Satya 13 years ago, I literally had no idea what I was getting into. I knew nothing about running a business, or publishing a magazine. It has been exponentially more gratifying than I could have imagined, as well as more difficult. Publishing is a very expensive and time consuming business, and we have always operated with a small staff and budget. We have jumped from topic to topic, trying to fulfill our mission of connecting different forms of advocacy. I wouldn’t trade a minute of my time working on Satya, it has been a fantastic project. But 13 years of publishing 141 issues has been a long road, and it is time to turn my attention and energy to other interests and projects.

To stop publishing Satya has been an extremely difficult decision. I have an enormous love for this magazine, and for the people who have devoted their time and energy to its success. I have had the good fortune to work with people whose commitment and dedication are matched only by their intelligence and kindness.

While the ramifications of this decision are sad for myself, our staff and readers, I am optimistic that there is still much good work to be done. Our commitment to these topics remains strong. Although this chapter is ending, and change, with its frightening and exciting promise is upon us, I maintain the belief that has sustained us throughout our years of publishing Satya — that we all have the power to make the world a more compassionate place.

Sincerely,
Beth Gould
Publisher, Satya Magazine

The good grocers of FoodFight! report that vegan tuna fish substitute Tuno has been discontinued. Apparently the canned variety was dropped a while ago, and now the frozen kind is gone as well.

Like li’l Shmoo at Vegan Lunch Box, I never liked the stuff. But if you did, sucks to be you.

In last Saturday’s Daily Mail, journalist Tom Rawstorne wrote of his sickening experience dipping a toe into the bloody pool of slaughter chic. His story is a part of the BBC series “Kill It, Cook It, Eat It” which shows animals being slaughtered in “an attempt to question modern Britain’s relationship with the food we eat–to reconnect people with the animals that fill the shrink-wrapped packets of meat they buy in the supermarket.”

Rawstorne details the journey from choosing his lamb (who he named “Faw-Faw”), watching him being killed, and then finding himself (nearly) unable to eat the spoils, his stomach wretching. Maybe this has put Rawstorne on a more humane path–or perhaps he’ll prefer to remain ignorant of where his lunch comes from next time.

Trimspa, Baby!

PETA’s statement on the death of Anna Nicole Smith, “a long-time vegetarian who had slimmed down into a stunning beauty when she stopped eating meat,” might have elicited a few snorts. The fantastic news is that vegetarians can now rejoice that certain “substances” are PETA-approved! And while many perky veg-evangelicals are happy to point out their clear skin, healthy hair, and high energy, a slurred “Like my body?” might now be added to the mix.

To be fair, the death of Anna Nicole Smith, who participated in campaigns against Iams animal tests and fur, is sad news. Like Jayne Mansfield, another chihuahua-toting tragic blonde, she leaves a small child behind, Dannielynn Hope. Let’s hope that Dannielynn, like Jayne Mansfield’s daughter, Mariska Hargitay, grows up to form a niche for herself, perhaps even starring in Law & Order: Hovercraft.

Virgil Butler

I’m saddened and surprised to learn that 41-year-old Virgil Butler was found dead on Friday, December 15.

A former Tyson Foods slaughterhouse employee of nearly 10 years in rural Arkansas, Mr. Butler became an advocate for chickens in 2003, after growing frustrated at the rampant gratutious cruelty occuring around him. He worked closely with PETA to call for prosecution of those responsible, including speaking out at a news conference, recording a video, going undercover to videotape inside the plant, and writing a comprehensive statement detailing the sadistic cruelty he witnessed at the Tyson plant.

You can read more about Virgil Butler’s work for animals on the blog kept by he and his wife, Laura Alexander: The Cyber Activist.

Virgil and Laura were also interviewed in the February 2006 issue of Satya magazine. There you can read about how Virgil became a whistleblower and how he and Laura came to give sanctuary to chickens and other animals.

The New York Times reports on the death of Juliet, a Central Park carriage horse. It mostly reads as a tragic tale of a screwed up situation; Juliet’s “owner” seems to have done his best for her, given his circumstances.

This would be a good moment to check out the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, and perhaps sign their petition to ban the carriage horse industry in New York City.

It will be a great day when this cruel relic of tourist amusement is gone for good.

One surprising fact from the Times article: the cash value of a carriage horse is only $1,700. Maybe we can just buy them all up and put the industry out of business.

Off to the big bucket in the sky

Dr. Robert C. Baker, the man who brought America such classics as chicken nuggets, ground poultry and turkey ham, died of a heart attack on March 13th at the surprisingly ripe age of 84. Paul and Storm have marked Dr. Baker’s passing with a humorous musical eulogy. Wizbang Pop! and Reveries online magazine also offer their two-cents.