But in his direst nightmares, even Mr. Boorstin, who would go on to become the Librarian of Congress, apparently never envisioned a show quite like "Survivor," which under the guise of delivering real experience serves up a voyeuristic feast drawn from adventure tales, game shows, soap opera and anything else, be it bowel movements or rat-eating, that might titillate the impressionable.
It now returns, presented by Irish Rep through Jan . 7 at where else?—the American Irish Historical Society, a beautiful, modestly grand building on Fifth Avenue that is opening three floors to fifty-seven guests at a time (who join the cast for a holiday feast drawn from the one described in the novella).
At that point, the feast was drawing near and, through the dining-room doors, one could see impatient beefsteakers milling in the lobby.
Even the Feast of San Gennaro, which still draws giant crowds to Mulberry Street, may be abbreviated in size this year at the behest of inconvenienced NoLIta merchants.
The ritual slaughter of tens of thousands of sheep at the annual feast known as Aid al-Adha draws a shocked response each year in France.
The city is also the host to the Feast of the Black Nazarene, held every January 9, which draws millions of Catholic devotees.
On this particular Sunday a special evening Mass is devoted to a feast day from Guatemala, drawing a large Central American crowd in holiday mood.
But it was the feast of political insults that drew hundreds to a shed nearby, where Senator Mitch McConnell and challengers on his left and right participated in a venerable Kentucky tradition — the annual Fancy Farm picnic, where candidates hurl mocking one-liners while trying to keep their composure in the face of yelling, sign-pumping hecklers.
Briggs didn't know the speck-like insects were ravaging his fields until he spotted tens of thousands of predator ladybugs drawn to the feast — making the fields a sea of green awash with red polka dots.
Hordes of birds descend, drawn by the juicy feast.
