Martha Stewart likes rap music

I heard her say it with my very own ears AND not just on TV. Live! My good friend Kim got us tickets to be in the Martha Stewart studio audience on Friday in New York City. We drove up to New Jersey Thursday night and were very nicely accommodated by some friends. Armed in our brightest camera friendly sweaters we took the early train the next morning to be at the TV studio by 8:30. While we waited in line we were fed a breakfast of donuts and hot cocoa while Martha Stewart paraphernalia was handed around with order forms. I couldn’t resist and bought a cookbook I would receive after the show. Once inside our purses were searched and our coats checked and the line for the bathroom grew. As we waited Joey, the audience cheerleader, gave us the run down on when to clap, ooohhh, ahhhh and all other important info. There are about 100 studio audience members, meaning 95 women and 5 dudes. We were lucky enough to get seats very close to the front and in the center.
The first guest on the show was Rachel Ray. Apparently Martha had been on the Rachel Ray show recently were she confessed her love of rap music so Rachel showed up to the show with a basket of Eminem CDs and a gangsta rap hat for Martha. It was pretty funny. Then Martha showed Rachel how to make a blackberry apple pie. It looked delicious and just might be included on the menu this Thanksgiving. Next was a rather ugly sewing project followed by a lesson on bulbs and bulb planting. I really liked the gardener, Anna Pavord. She was a delightful English lady who referred to some of the bulbs as looking “like dried up bits of sheep dung.” Watching them plant made me really wish I had a yard. It’s the perfect time for bulb planting, you know. During the commercial breaks rap music was played and Joey, our cheerleader, had the audience up and dancing as he ran around and handed out free stuff. While we didn’t get any of Joey’s goodies, despite our extra enthusiasm, every audience member did walk away with Rachel Ray’s new cook book, Bulb a beautiful picture and gardening book by Anna Pavord, an amaryllis bulb as well as a goody bag of lotions and samples. When the filming was over Martha took a few audience questions but had to run to another promotion. As we left the studio we received all our goodies and purchases and free lunch. It was a great quick trip to the city and so much fun. If you get the chance I’d highly recommend visiting Martha Stewart in NYC.

And now my ode to Martha…

Oh Martha Martha Martha Dear
Your amazing talents we all revere.
From weddings to parties and holiday fun,
Your cutesy crafts are number one.
On the menu you’re a culinary whiz.
You know your food and you know your biz.
But there you’ve made a big slipup,
So the Big House taught you rap, what up?!
Now you’ve more skills then ever before,
Garden tips, crafts, and recipes to adore.
Home-making perfection here we come!
Master chef, crafty crafter and a green thumb!