In 1980 Playboy model Dorothy Stratten was brutally murdered by her husband who then shot himself. It is the kind of tragic and salacious story that has spawned recreations in the true crime television genre of today, but surprisingly, it was Bob Fosse, fresh off his fame of All That Jazz that originally took up the story for a feature film called Star 80.

I'd seen the Muriel Hemingway VHS cover in video stores for years but, perhaps like you, had never heard so much about the film itself and wondered if that boded poorly for it. While it is not a pleasant movie, it's actually quite an ugly little story, I have to say i was surprised that it was such a good one.

A few dated directing techniques get in the way, but the very unglamorized story is well told and two phenomenal performances that really make the film worth watching. Hemingway is excellent as a very naive and sweet girl who is taken advantage by an insane man.

I don't know what it was that got Eric Roberts so off the fast track to stardom he was on (I'm going to guess drugs?) but it certainly wasn't a lack of talent that derailed him. Here he is complex, brutal, weak, scary, and pathetic all at once. It's a terrifying and realistic portrayal that even Hugh Hefner, friend of Dorothy's who was adamantly against the fictionalizing of her story praised the performance.

The genre my friend labeled as “pharmacy rock” (the middle of the road radio music that pumps through rite aids the world over) rarely has me exclaiming “I love this song!” But Crystal Gayle's heartfelt romantic rendition of Somebody Loves You is a beautiful exception. It's the kind of song you imagine really good Midwestern or southern girls putting on their plastic pink record players in frothy bedrooms as they wait for their boys to get back to town.

The song was rerecorded by the queen of rasp, Marianne Faithfull in the Brix Picks album Dreamin My Dreams years later.

My sole LA celebrity spotting was a whopper. I love Ed Harris, and his piercing eyes are even bluer if that's possible in real life, though sporting a handkerchief and a sun hat, he lacked some of the fierceness of his best roles (see History of Violence, Glengary Glenn Ross and Knightriders).

He will currently be seen in the WW2 drama, The Way Back, with Colin Farrell, which usually spells snoresville for me, but Peter Weir can sometimes be surprising (see Picnic at Hanging Rock). ?br/>

You may not recognize her name, possibly even her face if you've not seen To Catch a Thief (to which I say, really??) and there's little information available about Brigitte Auber to be found aside from her role in Hitchcock's breezy thriller that never manged to make her a big name in the US.

For my money though, and I am sure I'll have resistance, the cranky Frenchy with her boy cut and sideways glances stole the movie right from under Grace Kelly – yes, even with the to die for white frothy gowns, easy rich lady day frocks and the killer ensemble of gold lame panniers.

You could go way worse for an icon of relaxed summer beauty than Brigitte – starting with that haircut that might be just the big change you're looking for? If you don't want to be that drastic, try tying a black scarf around your head, getting a flattering unique one piece, through on some stripes (the seasons easiest way to be cool) and learn to look adorable while pouting.

See all the looks here.

I seem to remember Tasti D Lite as tasteless coldness, but when my coworker's birthday arrived and we recalled her love for the calorie conscious chain, we looked into birthday cakes and after trying them, I looked on the frozen dessert with new eyes.

It was light and refreshing and the favors were far more distinct than I had remembered. It was one of the only office birthday parties (of which there are many) that I wasn't craving a sugar high crash nap after.

We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones! We're going to see Grace Jones!

On my first foray into the beautiful Lake Placid region of the high peaks of the Adirondacks we made two stops. The first was the regionally well advertised North Pole. In retrospect, to avoid seeming like creeps with a video camera, I'd save the excursion for when I have a child.

They'd appreciate the three little piggies in the petting zoo, the pole made out of real ice, the dismal little train ride, and the teenage productions of the first Christmas a bit more than an adult might. We did however make the teen's day that as in charge of speaking as “Tennenbaum” the talking tree and the wishing well gnome. He got lots of chances to riff on Jim's beard.

Just further along the road you can drive up to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Even on a foggy day like the one we went offered spectacular views at various stopping points. At the top you can either climb or take a cave elevator to the castle at the very top. We opted for the easy way out.

Our summer vacations seem to be haunted by fog and consequently we again (just like in Block Island) experienced nature in a unique way. The mountain top seemed eerie and otherworldly with ghost like wisps of cloud traveling across them.

The concept of the Dark Ages, a time when mankind actually reverted – forgetting the advances of one of the most advances civilizations in history, has always been fascinating and mystifying to me.

Sadly, most History Channel series that I've tried to watch fail to quench my curiosity regarding historical events, but The Dark Ages was not disappointing. Neither dry nor too jazzed up and hip-ified, their collection of experts and recreations offer an insightful exposition on the time of plagues and superstition.

The series is available on netflix on demand.

Gumbo is the kind of meal I simply don't have the patience to make myself. Fortunately my friend Mike possesses such virtues and is kind enough to share the fruits of his labours. His recipe calls for lots of okra, sausage and shrimp over a heap of white rice. It's spicy, rich and delicious.

Here are some basic recipes to work off of.