TV Shows »Game Change

on HBO

Posters of Game Change have been promising that, at the least, the HBO movie will feature excellent makeup and costume. Ed Harris gets McCain’s creepy deep brown bat eyes and does a good job, but lacks the jowls and deep anger of John McCain.

Meanwhile, Julianne Moore makes a stunning transformation into one of my least favorite public figures, Sarah Palin. Beyond the up-dos, accent, and suit jackets, she is able to make the Vice President hopeful human and to my shock worthy of our sympathy.

While not exactly flattering, this portrait is much fairer and less parody than I expected. Though it probably is much more enjoyable viewing if you’re one of the many that howled with sad laughter at Palin’s Katie Couric interview.

Without transcending the tv movie genre, Game Change is a fascinating look at one of politics most recent dramas and reportedly was close enough to actual events to make some of the people involve squirm.

Makes the rather indulgent ordering of HBO worth more than the season of Game of Thrones we got it for.

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Posted on March 25, 2012

Spend a Couple Minutes »5 Umami Paste

20120323-214528.jpg by Laura Santtini

Even though I don’t have to disposable income I once did, it’s still hard to walk out of The Meat Hook without one impulse buy.

This time it was 5 Umami Paste, a potent tomato based paste that was perfect atop a bowl of spaghetti for a quick delicious lunch.

I know “umami” has risen quickly to be the latest arguably obnoxious foodie term but it’s actually a century old Japanese discovery and considered the 5th sense.

You could also call it savory if you wanted, but I was much more drawn to “Umami paste” than I would be to a “savory paste”.

The taste is up my alley – all anchovies, sundried tomatoes, garlic and porcini. The uses are undoubtedly endless and I look forward to discovering them all.

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Posted on March 25, 2012

Songs »Kiss Them For Me

by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1991)

Kiss Them For Me will always call to my memory the hallways of junior high.

I had bought an oversized Siouxsie and the Banshees tee based solely on my love for this exotic 120 minutes hit (which, of course I owned in cassingle format).

A really cool mom schooled me on Siouxsies’ history when she saw me wearing it (that mom later got arrested for running a brothel, but was super nice, had the kindest son and is the reason I knew about the origins of punk when I did).

This 90’s comeback which featured a very sexy Siouxsie in sequins and champagne video is perfect listening for those pining for the best the 90’s had to offer (aside from naive optimism and allowances from our parents.)

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Posted on March 24, 2012

Movies »Timecrimes

directed by Nacho Vigalondo (2007)

Like anything dealing with the phenomena of time travel, Timecrimes is a bit of a conundrum. Rather than being frustrating though, the questions you’re left asking are part of the film’s appeal. Of course I can’t get into those questions here too specifically without giving away plot, so I’ll just have to find others who’ve seen it to debate.

A small film on a seemingly low budget (but not in a bad way) the movie focuses on one afternoon in the life of a normal, middle aged man named Hector. Through a series of unfortunate and unusual events, his calm life is suddenly disrupted by violence, shock and time travel.

Interesting and mind bending, the movie, which is directed by the charming guy playing the scientist is nearly completely satisfying though sadly there’s one point where I couldnt help asking in frustration “Why did he do that?”

Still it’s great to find a gem like this that raises all sorts of fun questions about the always fascinating theory of time travel.

Available on Netflix instant, this is a quick intriguing afternoon watch that will keep you thinking. Oh, and don’t let the poster scare you off, it’s not a Saw-like gore fest as it might suggest.

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Posted on March 23, 2012

Restaurants »Szechuan Gourmet

21 W 39th St

Midtown is the place for awesome Chinese in the city. I am certain of this after a recent mediocre meal in Chinatown and a stellar lunch at Szechuan Gourmet.

Across the street from previously recommended and adored Lan Sheng, Gourmet is the more well known of the two and overflowing with happy diners at all hours.

While the mouth numbing mala we experienced at Lan Sheng wasn’t here, the food is equally delicious yet unique.

My latest litmus seems to be shredded chicken in garlic and here the dish is complex, flavorful and addicting. I simply could not stop eating it long after I was full.

Another good marker of a good Chinese place is their hot and sour soup. Done wrong its a gloppy confusing mess that strikes an off chord with your stomach right away. Done right and it’s incredible: thick but not gloppy and punchy with fresh tasting tofu and crunchy bamboo shoots. Here it’s definitely done right.

Jim enjoyed the old American favorite General Tso’s which was a delicious challenge to the mall court junk that gives Chinese food a trashy name. Prices are great and the staff is efficient but doesn’t rush you. With this and it’s competitor across the street there’s no excuse to not enjoy good Szechuan in the city.

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Posted on March 22, 2012

Spend a Couple Minutes »Yummy Keychains

from Kid Robot

I have a thing for cute, smiling food with googly eyes, so I can’t resist Kid Robots’ Yummy key chains.

I love that your purchase is random and you don’t know which one you’ve gotten til the box is open (even if I have gotten the blue muffin three times!).

Which kind of leads me to my only complaint – short life spans. I’ve gotten so many of these key chains because they either break, fall off or otherwise corrode with wear.

The adorable cake key topper pictured, for example? Already fallen off the chain twice.

Yet, it’s a cycle, and the fact that they do die leads me to eagerly go in search of its replacement. So I’ll keep buying them as long as they make them.

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Posted on March 21, 2012

Albums »Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Soundtrack

by Stu Phillips etc (1970)

It’s hard to make an album as off the wall brilliant/bad as the movie Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, but in its own way the soubdtrack is pretty fabulous.

I sought it out one morning when I was craving a 60’s counter culture girl band sound, that insanely enough, I only found (without extensive searching) in the satisfying throaty sexiness of the fake in-movie band The Carrie Nations.

Songs like of “Look On Up At the Bottom”, “Come With the Gentle People”, “Sweet Talking Candyman” will make you want to shake your mini skirt hips on gogo boots. And not ironically either.

Much of the music’s success comes from writer Stu Phillips and the amazing vocals of one Lynn Carey who, after a brief google search I’ve learned was a penthouse model and hippie/sexy lead singer of a band called Mama Lion. I’m intrigued.

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Posted on March 21, 2012

Desserts,Drinks »Bouchon Bakery


One Rockefeller Plaza

Creamy lattes and sweet macaroons the size of sand dollars; there’s much to love about the popular Thomas Keller Bouchon Bakery.

The environment is all about civility and the baked goods taste fresh and delicious so you don’t even mind walking out thirteen dollars poorer.

We tried the vanilla and passion fruit macaroons- both recommended.

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Posted on March 20, 2012

Web Sites »The Impossible Cool

Photo Tumblr

The Impossible Cool is an aptly titled tumblr that features amazing, mostly black and white photography of the coolest men and women.

Often featuring photos rarely seen and always mesmerizing, the site makes the idea of “celebrity” seem cool again.

Just a few favorites here, but the archives are worth browsing for inspiration.

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Posted on March 18, 2012

Recipes »Peperoncini Beef Sandwiches

from A Year of Slow Cooking

I’ve embraced a new level of mom-ness by busting out the crock pot for the first time ever.

These Peperoncini Beef Sandwiches have to be the easiest of the easiest to make – and the most likely to make you doubt they’ll turn out any good.

You just drop some beef in the pot with a jar of peperoncini peppers and cook low eight hours.

The result is quite surprising (in the best way).

Make sure to melt from fresh mozzarella and add the peppers to your sandwich.

I think I might love my crock pot now (so expect more slow cooker recipes to come.)

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Posted on March 18, 2012