NYC, and the little notes at the end of the exam

I'm back in the Hassee now after a great trip to NYC for the New Voices in Legal Theory workshop, generously sponsored by Cardozo and organized by Ekow Yankah. I had the chance to meet for the first time a cluster of really interesting and sharp people (David Tabachnick, Vic Todros, Danny Priel, and Leo Zaibert) and to reconnect with a gaggle of other scoundrels and savages (e.g., Rob Kar (congrats on the recent tenure vote!), Adam Kolber, John Mikhail, Ekow, Eric Miller, Vera Bergelson, Ken Ehrenberg, and Kevin Kordana).  Many thanks to Ekow and Cardozo for putting this together. After the jump, I offer a few recommendations/cautions based on the weekend's extracurricular activities.

But before I get to that, I've got a pile of exams still looking at me jealously. As I've been grading, two things have given me grist for a blog post. First, has anyone come across some priceless or at least worthwhile phrases that have stuck out while earning this semester's salary? I came across the "Cans of Construction" several times, which assuredly takes pole position. I'll clearly have to be better at enunciating next year.

Second, how do prawfs react to the inevitable notes at the end of the exam that say: "Dear Professor, I really loved your class and hope you have a great summer. Thank you for challenging us!"  Should we take them as sincere or ... psy-ops? Apropos Jack's investigative journalism escapade with the YLJ's quasi-anon policy--and the concern that certain info biases the decisionmakers--I think these notes mess with my head in a similar way, making it difficult to give these exams the low grades they sometimes warrant. But since I didn't announce a policy of "no bribery through flattery" earlier, I can't bring myself to penalize it now--regardless of their potential insincerity. Any coping strategies? (Besides: Get over it!)

What to seek: chocolate chunk cookies at Levain Bakery (74th near Amsterdam); fava hummus and falafel at the Hummus Place (Amsterdam near 74th); salmon burgers at Blue Water Grill; anything at Le Pain Quotidien (many locations); the WaZa Waffle at Norma's (the exalted brunch emporium at the Parker Meridien; home of the 1000$ lobster/caviar frittata); and the fries at Vynl (9th Ave in Hell's Kitchen); drinks at the Grotto on the Lower East Side.

What to avoid: the play November on Broadway--despite Nathan Lane's exuberant performance, it's a bit of a let-down from David Mamet; not much more than a sharper-than-average 90 minute sit-com; the creative but no less odd tasting butternut squash wontons at Vinyl.