I'm as surprised as you might be that I'm recommending Vacancy this week–and not just because it's directed by a Nimrod. I kind of remember when it opened, there were some good reviews, one said it was a real modern grindhouse flick in contrast to the Tarantino/Rodriguez flop that opened the same week. But, you know, lots of bad movies get good reviews. Who could honestly expect to get scared by a Luke Wilson movie anyway?

We put it on late at night in one of those, “lets watch it because it's in HD” moods. I half expected to fall asleep but in this movie, sleep would have been impossible. After just enough set up for the main characters, a fighting divorcing couple played by Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson, to seem like humans rather than horror movie fodder, the tension sets in quickly and doesn't let up. My heart was actually racing, and I felt almost uncomfortably tense watching the action unfold. It's a simple premise: the couple is caught in the middle of nowhere by people that want to kill them and they try to survive.

The movie excels where so many others fail. There's no exposition, no monologues by the bad guys, no superhuman heroics, no dumb actions committed just to make the plot work, no unnecessary gore. It ends abruptly once its done its job of totally creeping you out, forgoing the cheesy tacked-on ending.

It's not a movie you can watch repeatedly and it's no classic that will be remembered for years to come. But, especially if you go into it without too many expectations, it's a genuinely nerve-wracking, straight forward horror movie, the kind I wish was made more often.

When I was becoming a teenager, Steve Miller Band's The Joker was the song to know… What can I say, it was Colorado. All?the older, drinking kids knew it by heart and would sing it in my junior high hallways with knowing, leering glances and nods as if all the lyrics were full of hidden perverted subtext meant to scare the nerdy seventh graders, aka “sevies” like myself.

So of course I became a Steve Miller Band fan in name. Meaning I pretty much only knew the Joker song and jumped at the chance to see them in concert when my friend Bill called to ask me. I had been to concerts with my parents, but this was like being a grown up, if you ignored the fact that Bill's dad would be there too.

It was a weird time, awkward and even more so as I had just gotten over a debilitating horrible crush on Bill the previous year, and he was now in the midst of a similar crush on me. Still, I brought my friend Gina and we were all set on having a good time. I had even listened to my sister's Joker album as prep.

The concert was at Red Rocks, the weather was lovely, and I mostly just remember thinking (probably correctly) everyone around me was older, drunk, and on drugs. I could even SMELL drugs which to me smelled like apple flavored gum. It was exhilarating and scary, but it all disappeared when Steve Miller played Abracadabra.

I didn't know this awesome song was by the same guy!! It wasn't on the Joker nor did it even sound like the same band – but I knew the song, like really, really knew it, I had listened to is all the time as a kid and had fond memories of the magical video.

Even later when we learned that someone had thrown up in Bill's jean jacket, that may or may not have had a beloved Batman patch on it, we still went home feeling awesome. We had partied, as in stood around and uncomfortably nodded our heads to music we were supposed to love, and made it home safely with Abracadabra jamming in our brains.

Adam Ant could have easily entered this list as a style icon. Epaulets and man-makeup make me happy, but I can't ignore those kind of cheekbones and punk rock little muscles.

He's a pair of Goody Two Shoes I wouldn't mind trying on, if you know what I mean!

Oh lordy! Another Greenpoint girl. (Though she grew up in the town of Southside Fish and Clam, Lindenhurst). Pat Benatar was a force when she emerged on the new wave scene and her videos stuffed with leather, cheekbones, tattered tulle, and defiance were just about the coolest thing I had ever seen.

Like children, it's hard to pick a favorite of her many hit singles. We Belong and its video of heavenly white shoulder pads, the runaway turned call girl Love is a Battlefield, the absolutely rocking Heartbreaker, or the masochistic Hit Me With Your Best Shot. It was not hard to pick her as a style icon with her strong features, strong independent personality and wild individual panache.

My dear friends have once again come through with a mixed assortment of fancy oddball chocolates from Kees for my birthday. Only this time, there was something a little new and different.

These macaroons, which can been seen in beautiful pastels in the beautifully shot (but overlong and sadly dull) Marie Antoinette, were said to actually be a favorite of the young sweet toothed queen.

They're a favorite of mine too, and I was particularly smitten with Kee's key lime spin on the classic.

Name?span class=”text1″> Kee Ling Tong is well known for the fresh, experimental chocolates she produces in her tiny Soho shop, but she should become known for these cookies as well.

In a land, not too far from our fair city, where I once met a dear chap named Spike, lies Lyndhurst, New Jersey. There a large fortress with a large ole parking lot stands and within its walls: Medieval Times!

My friends and I decided to take pleasure in this past time of ten year old birthdays this past Sunday and huzzahed our way to near victory with our red knight.

The tickets request you get there and hour and a half before the show begins. This is to ensure you have time to spend all your money on trinkets, wench bags, T-shirts, booze, swords and an awesome portrait with the king himself. Also expect a pungent aroma of urine and fog machines. Take the time to take in the amazing decor, the sword displays, the art work on the walls, and the fake old texts.

When they finally open the doors to the arena, a menu (classily printed on your paper napkin) insures a mediocre feast awaits you… but no one comes to Medieval Times for the food. It's all about razzmatazz, you know, entertainment! And there is two hours worth of that to be had.

If you are curious about the food though, it's veggie soup, much like Campbells, the butt end of garlic bread (the best part of the meal), a seemingly endless supply of Pepsi, a half of a roast chicken (remove the skin if you want to survive unscathed), a “sparerib” I could not touch, and a potato with seasoned salt. Not good food, but not quite as bad as it could have been. Oh, and no utensils, deal with it or you shall be heckled. And please tip your waiter, the clan next to us left three lousy dollars.

As for entertainment, there were dancing horses, a freaking sweet falconer, lots of plot development in theatrical dialogues, and the knights of the realm – one of which I found handsome but others, eh um Mike, claimed he “looked like a whore from a heavy metal whore house”. If only such a thing existed!

We were rooting for the Gary Oldman cheek boned Red Knight who really should have won if it weren't for a treacherous traitor who totally cheated. Lots of fighting, jousting, flag flying, you know, good stuff.

The price is high-ish, 65 per person if you go whole hog and get the royal treatment with a dvd, front row seats, and a booklet, 55 otherwise, and it's totally worth it for the unique experience.

On my recent Los Angeles trip for work, the shopping began the second we landed. Well, nearly. First we had to refuel on some pretty excellent grub at Kings Road Cafe. We sat in the sun and I enjoyed a plate of avocado and fish tacos. It was a prefect start to feeling a world away from bad weather and bad smells, the only two thing I really didn't missed about the city.

One of the things I did miss was good old public transportation. I felt that I spent 90 percent of my time in the passengers seat or our rented Subaru. First on the whirlwind tour we hit American Rag at 150 S LeBrea Ave., a ritzy oversized boutique shop with mostly designer duds and a small section of vintage. They had a great selection of wearable but interesting stuff.

We headed next to Fred Segal, 8100 Melrose Ave, a larger than expected complex of women's wear, children's wear, men's wear, home goods, and a caf? that attracts a very very LA scene. Breckin Meyer was there, eh. The store was out of my personal price range, though we found great stuff for work. For those without a company mission, it is fun to stop by just for the greenery encrusted building and a little people watching. Or you could just look at the photo I took and rent Garfield, up to you.

My favorite shopping spot the first day was Jet Rag. A huge, 1990s feeling vintage emporium where I managed to even grab a couple things for myself. With very little in way of afforadable vintage in NYC, Jet Rag reminded me of how fun the rack and stack hunt used to be in Colorado and Providence.

The next day was made for Silver Lake, an area not only good for running into ex boyfriends when you look jet lagged and haggard, but excellent boutique shopping. Start with Mexican inspired breakfast at Millies, then hit the lovely Una Mae's on 4651 Kingswell Ave. The Kids Are Alright on 2201 West Sunset Boulevard is next on the agenda and was full of quirky, hip paper goods, gifts and clothing. Right up the street you'll find the eccentric Sirens & Sailors, another pricey joint, but one that excels in unique pieces of jewelry.

Later that day we whisked off to Santa Monica, where we managed to get a glimpse of the ocean. And then more shopping. After a chai from the absurdly bustling Urth Caffe, we walked up and down the beachy town, hitting Pebbles, a great kids shop and a few more less memorable places.

After the Rose Bowl all day Sunday, and a fast, huge meal we couldn't manage to eat all of (but was super tasty) at Palms Thai – the restaurant famed for their Thai Elvis impersonator and my new buddy, the only places left to hit before we took off were Kitsons on Robertson Blvd. (where we ran into Catherine Willows) and Built By Wendy and Scout on 3rd st.

Just like The Secret History, the 1981 miniseries adaptation of Brideshead Revisited is a classic Jim and Brittany favorite that has never made it to Brix Picks.?Based on the sweeping novel by Evelyn Waugh, this is a lush, epic miniseries starring a young, dapper Jeremy Irons as Charles, who is reason enough to see this gem.?The lesser known actor Anthony Andrews also amazes with his?dazzling portrayal of the tragic Sebastian (who was my very first Brix Pick for male style icon – high waisted linen pants, crisp tailored button downs, and those golden locks reserved for the haughty and wealthy, sigh).

The first half filled with debauchery and the fervent friendship between Charles and Sebastian is of course more fun that the second half filled with misgivings, regret, failure, and lost and found religion.

As this is widely considered one of the best adaptations to television ever filmed, so the 660 minute running time is totally and completely worth it, I assure you. Especially if, like me, you have a penchant for tales of the woefully rich.

Local Red Jacket Orchard apple cider made for an excellent lamb chop glaze in this easy, 327 calorie recipe. The fennel preparation was equally simple and good but does have a 45 minute cook time, so plan accordingly.

Coming into vogue in last few decades in the US, fennel has been around forever, and is used in foods an medicine in many cultures. It tastes a bit like anise, and has a faint licuorice scent.