[applause] yesterday we had the privilege of starting the day with the chairman of the nea. we were allowed to give a cuff overview to the chairman of the creative committee of san francisco. in a way we were also the warm- up act for the mayor. the chairman wanted to meet with the mayor. you had the chairman of the national endowment, connected to many grants and initiatives we were competing for. he decided to enter the larger meeting and join us. 15 minutes into that meeting i was starting to get worried because the conversation had not gotten to the talking points that the staff had worked on so hard. suddenly, an artist was revealed. he masterfully guided the conversation and spoke so eloquently about the importance of art in the city. by the time that the chairman left, hohe was totally convinced the sentences that would be one of the pilot cities. without stealing any of the limelight from the honoree, i wanted to thank the mayor for all of the support that he gives the arts. [applause] >> a couple of more thank you's, the food has generously been so wide -- supplied

recipient of the allen wright award for arts journalism, the sundance institute arts fellowship and the nea fellowship of journalism. in 2006, she received a best columnist nomination at the annual san francisco media excellence awards and her first book on acting was published by farber and farber in the uk and farber, inc., in the united states. let's welcome phillip and chloe >> hi there, phillip. >> hi, chloe >> so, this play, it's been quite a journey. we're talking 3 1/2 years, maybe nearly 50 different drafts and 5 workshops? . >> five workshops, yes. >> so, looking back at the journey, how has it been for you and has it come out as you expected it would? . >> what's interesting is if you work on a play this long, normally there are times that it becomes redundant and you get a little bored with the piece. it's only natural. it's pushing 4 years now. this one was interesting in that it never got boring or ever felt redundant and each thing that we did over these almost 4 years, whether it was going off to sundance or to writer's retreat they have in sheritan, wyoming -- is that where

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looks night as -- looks nea it. there. 70s and sites 80s inland. 50s and 60s at the coast.he weekend. >>> hey, our friend from florida there. friend from texas. >> yes, friends from waco, texas. i used to work for the cbs affiliate in waco. >> did you really? >> yes, many, many moons ago. >> waco and killeen? >> yes, i was in the killeen bureau for a while. boy, those were the good old days. >> now you're stuck with us on the mraz. >> >> you have to do what you have to do few a lot coming up in the next half hour. he's been described as effortlessly funny. we're not talking about -- there he is, paul rudd teaming up with steve carell. what a team they make. they together in "anchorman," back together for jt dinner with the schmucks". >>> our favorite home improvement expert from diy network. amy matthews and kevin o'connor are with us with four easy projects you really want to pay attention to. >>. >> i like the word he'scy with it comes to projects. are you hungry this morning? our katie lee is here to show us how to bring hawaiian flavor to your backyard, coconut shrimp w

i mentioned my lawyer, but there was also ralph neas said did such an extraordinary job -- who did such an extraordinary job. >> thank you for mentioning bob dole. he was invited to be part of the panel, but could not be here. he sent this letter which i would like to read. dear friends of americans with disabilities, it was the most important civil-rights over the past several decades. almost as important is that the bill had bipartisan support and was signed into law by republican president, george h. w. bush. i was proud to be a part of it. and though it has helped thousands of americans with disabilities for the past 20 years. it has enhanced the freedom of people with disabilities and therefore everyone else, demonstrating that america can be a shining example. i think those of you who played any part in making ada a reality and look forward to further challenges and successes ahead. god bless america. bob dole. again, you mentioned several times about our directly with the president. i can testify openly about how much president george h. w. bush was so focused on this and wanted