Iphone AppI’ve jumped on the Words with Friends bandwagon and it’s as addicting as I had expected (very). I seem to win about 50% of the time.
If you are my real life friend, my name is brixpicks – come find me.
If you’re not my real life friend, I’ll still play but won’t respond to messages, like “What’s your name cutie?” and “You keep blocking me!”
directed by Menahem Golan (1980)Trying to cash in on the success of Grease and Rocky Horror, the makers of The Apple weren’t terribly ambitious with production values. Their future is one of hologram stickers and aluminum foil but their expectations of how the world would change by 1994 (!) were ambitious indeed. Surprisingly, we are not all being controlled by the devil with holograms and pop music… or are we??
A totally eye popping crazy thing, The Apple is worth at least one viewing in your life. The Adam and Eve parable that could only be described as both dumb and fascinting has become a bit of a cult classic, though to be perfectly honest, it wears a little thin after about an hour.
But just know that between the seemingly unending weepy songs there is a simulated sex dance that looks like it takes place in a Sleepy’s in heaven and a floating car in the sky that abruptly ends everything (though not in quite as cool a way as it does in Repo Man).
The fact that this is a German made film is clear in a million little ways, but the leading lady is unmistakably Canadian, with the kind of slutty, round faced loveliness that I never fail to be charmed by.
Trashy fun, this gem can be seen on Netflix streaming and even if the plot lacks a bit, some of the songs are undeniably catchy. Plus there’s ton’s of latex jumpsuits, see through rain coats, studded everything, and diamond encrusted grills.
It has the dubious distinction of being one of the few movie musicals not made into a live musical. Seems about time to change that, no?
Llandrillo, NR, Corwen, Denbighshire, North Wales LL21 0St UK, Guest Written by Dana:Stephen surprised me with a weekend trip away to Wales. The hotel he chose was a “restaurant with rooms” called Tyddn Llan, run by a married couple. I only met the very charming wife, Susan, who is the hostess at the front of the house, taking meal orders and offering tourist information during the day. Stephen did get a peek at Bryan, the husband, who is the chef.
This all takes place in the beautiful welsh countryside town of Llangollen in a Georgian house with big gardens home to rabbits, a maze and tadpoles in the pond.
It was a fixed price menu and the food was creative but honest. Cooked perfectly, nice portions, you knew that you could order anything on the menu and you would get it the way it was meant to be served. It’s supposed to be the best restaurant in North Wales and has received many awards including a Michelin star.
We were invited to have drinks in the sitting room where Susan took our order and was able to explain every part of the menu. This seemed like grown up dining and at times we weren’t sure if we should have brought our 3 year old. The staff was very accommodating though, making sure they had homemade pasta/gnocchi for Bea in case she didn’t want another exotic choice (although, Bea did eat MY pate and Stephen’s lamb AND crab.. we usually tell her everything is “sausages”).
My favorite meal was breakfast though when I ordered Laverbread (seaweed mince) in an oat jacket on toast with scrambled eggs. Bea’s favorite meal was a scotch egg, which is basically a hard boiled egg inside a sausage. I cant even bring myself to try it.
The staff was swift and kind and helpful, not words id use to ever describe customer service in the UK. The room was sweet. I was sad to go, but i couldnt imagine eating that well for more than 2 days in a row. We will definitely go back.
218 St. John Street, London, Written by Dana** All this week I’ll be featuring some great Picks by my dear friend Dana who will clue us in on London’s greatest offerings. Thanks so much Dana!!**
Styled like a bazaar, Liberty of London is one of the most beautifully and uniquely curated spaces. The store started in 1850, to sell Asian imports and in the 1920s, the Tudor revival building was created (from the timbers of ships!), and stock was extended. (I learned this all from a booklet they sell at the store).
It now carries small collections of high-end designers and its always been known to showcase new designers. Arthur Liberty helped develop the Art Nouveau movement by sponsoring the contemporary designers of that time.
Most people recognise the name LIBERTY for its traditional fabrics and prints, which could be described as prim English country florals, though today their are many more new prints by contemporary designers.
Oh and there’s a champagne bar downstairs!
from Thai TableThis Thai recipe for Curry with Bamboo Shoots called for ground beef, but I went a lighter route with ground chicken instead.
As monochromatic as it looks, it was alive with flavor and quick to make.
Great Umbrella StrollerJim hasn’t been this excited about a piece of baby equipment since, well, never.
The UPPAbaby G-Lite Stroller is, in fact, very light, making it ideal for apartment walk ups. It folds and unfolds easily (which is a huge plus and also surprisingly rare), handles bumpy sidewalks well, has a nice canopy to block out sunlight, and looks great.
The only minor drawback is a pretty small carrying space below.
We found ours for half off on Gilt Groupe, so it might be worth checking their for a repeat offer.
I’ve been meaning to make it up to the new cheese and beer shop, Eastern District in the northern part of the neighborhood for some time now. A recent “au revoir” party gave us the prefect excuse to head up there and buy some fancy cheeses.
The friendly staff helped me pick some greats: an aged gouda, a raclette, and a lovely goat button called Sweet Emotions. Jim and I also indulged in pricey bottles of Hitachino White Ale, a favorite I haven’t had since getting knocked up (it still tastes delicious!) and were intrigued by their entire selection of canned and bottled beers (including a whole shelf of Saisons and Six Point–now in cans!).
The brightly lit, easily maneuverable shop also offers a rotating assortment of beers available in growlers sans snarky drunk beer snobs (unlike Brouwerij Lane) as well as a wall of local and otherwise tasty treats. Can’t wait to come again for lunch–their sandwich list was making me drool (turkey with bacon marmalade mmmmmm).
A great addition to the neighborhood when you need some specialty foods.
70 North 7th Street, BrooklynAn ice cream sandwich is a delicious concept but I often find them disappointing. Usually either the cookie or the ice cream (or both) are sub par.
Not so with the Coolhaus truck that simply combines delicious Ovenly cookies with creamy, exotic flavored ice creams.
You pick and choose your sandwich combo, a feature that drew us in, but the fact that our rosemary butterscotch on chocolate chip was so overstuffed, sloppy, and scrumptious is what will have me coming back for more.
After all, wouldn’t you be curious about pistachio with black truffles and olive oil gelato?
If you live in LA or Austin you can indulge your curiosity at one of their trucks. Locally, it hangs out in front of the Artists and Fleas market on North 7th every other Saturday this Summer.
Singer, Songwriter, BabeSam Beam, aka Iron and Wine, looks like my husband spliced with Zach Galifinakis with a voice like the summer breeze. Truly hunky indeed.
by Gal Costa (1969)Gal Costa’s self titled album begins like a sunny afternoon:
you’re resting your feet and eyes swaying in a hammock in your backyard, the scent of tropical flowers lulling you to day dream.
Quickly, though it turns into the same afternoon once your lover has returned from a walk along Ipanema carrying ingredients for mojitos with half the tanned, good looking population from the beach trailing behind him for an impromptu party…
Perhaps even an impromptu party where some hallucinogens might be passed around as stuff does get pretty psychedelic.
Have Fun!
