by Jennifer Baum

I am a self-proclaimed awards season junkie. My family knows that as soon as the celebrities step foot on the red carpet, the big television is mine. All mine. I’ve been known to lock the door, eat dinner on the couch and not take calls until the very last award has been read. Years ago when we spent a lot of time in LA I used to hole myself up in a hotel room with my stepdaughter, curtains drawn, and all eyes on the television.  Mind you, given the time difference this was occurring at about 2PM, just as the sun was shining and the air was warm and inviting. Not for me. No way. I even watched the ill-fated Golden Globes in 2007 when all they did was stand in front of a microphone and read the winners. I was there, mid-apartment construction, on a folding chair, obsessed.

As I’ve gotten older and much busier, my obsession still exists but my priorities have shifted a bit. Now I know that I can get a great look at all the dresses the next day (or even later the same night) in newspapers, online and on TV recaps.  I know I’ll read the list of winners in the Times the next morning.  So if I have an event or a family obligation, I’m not nearly as anxiety-ridden as in previous years.

This year, the Golden Globes, the unofficial start to the official awards season, was on Sunday, January 17, a particularly difficult evening to schedule television time. There were several football games, the premiere of 24 in NYC, Iron Chef America where yours truly was one of the three featured judges, and a Wii-obsessed 9-year old – all competing with my beloved Globes.  Guess who won?

I settled in, dinner plate on my lap, laptop open should the mood strike me, a Diet Coke on hand and the clicker safely buried where no other family member could find it.  But as I watched, and yes, admired the dresses and the (somewhat frizzy) hair and the jewels and the flubs (Julia Roberts) and the excitement (cast of Glee), I couldn’t focus in the same way. Sure, it was fun, but every time a celebrity stood up to accept their award, their mention of the tragedies in Haiti seemed to rise above the din of the laughter, drunken stumbles and acceptance speeches.

I found myself hoping that the 72-hour rule for survival was just a myth; that doctors would be able to get enough supplies to treat the wounded; that babies waiting for adoption would make it to their new homes and those now orphaned children would quickly find new loving families.  I hoped and prayed (and I don’t pray often) that there would be enough organization on the ground so that food and water and help would reach the needy. I recounted all the old clothing and toys and books that we would be dropping off at the amazing car service dispatch center around the corner whose sidewalk was piled high with donations from others wanting to help.

And while I did watch the Golden Globes until the bitter end, and wondered aloud if Sandra Bullock’s dress was made from cellophane, my mind was focused more on those wounded, in constant danger and in need of our help and support. Please give in anyway that you can. One easy way is to patronize the restaurants below who have generously jumped in to give where receiving is much needed.

“Dine Out For Haiti” (www.dineout4haiti.org; www.dineoutforhaiti.org). The following restaurants will be participating in this project and will be donating 10 percent of their sales on Sunday, January 24, to aid organizations:

• Anella (222 Franklin St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222; 718-389-8100)
• Cookshop (156 10th Ave., New York, NY 10011; 212-924-4440)
• Delicatessen (54 Prince St., New York, NY 10012; 212-226-0211)
• Five Points (31 Great Jones St., New York, NY 10012; 212-253-5700)
• Hundred Acres (38 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012; 212-475-7500)Kefi (505 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10024; 212-873-0200)
• The Mermaid Inn (96 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10003; 212-674-5870; 568 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10024; 212-799-7400)
• The Mermaid Oyster Bar (79 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012; 212-260-0100)
• Motorino (349 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003; 319 Graham Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211)

United Nations World Food Program. The following restaurants

will be donating 10 percent of their sales on Monday, January 25, to this aid organization:

• Alto (520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 212-308-1099)
• Convivio (45 Tudor City Place, New York, NY 10017; 212-599-5045)
• Marea (240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019; 212-582-5100) http://www.marea-nyc.com/

one sixtyblue (1400 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607; 312-850-0303). Starting Monday, January 18, and running through Sunday, January 24, the restaurant is offering diners the option to add $1 to their checks to benefit Heartland Alliance’s Haitian relief efforts.

STARR Restaurants (http://www.starr-restaurant.com/). Ten percent of gross sales from all meals purchased on Monday, January 25, at the company’s restaurants in Atlantic City, New York City and Philadelphia will be donated to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

BLT Steak LA (8720 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069; 310 360-1950): $10 from every bottle of wine purchased at the restaurant from now until the end of January will be donated to Haiti relief funds.

What I’m:

Reading:           The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski

Watching:         My debut as judge on Iron Chef America (http://www.foodnetwork.com/iron-chef-america/nic-vs-yang/index.html)

Eating:              No carbs, smaller portions (It’s a new year, after all)

Listening to:      The Beatles remastered Anthology, one disc at a time.