Pop culture with a hangover

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Why haven’t they made My Best Friend’s Wedding into a musical yet?

March 7, 2008
With a new movie musical coming out every other day, I wonder why nobody’s thought of turning rom-com favorite My Best Friend’s Wedding into the next Broadway sensation.  Think about it.  The soundtrack is comprised almost entirely of Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs, so you’ve got your music theme right there.  And it’s a cheesy, wedding-related [...]

Holiday Gift Ideas

December 11, 2007
Everyone knows that besides the promise of eating pie to the point of bursting, the best part about finally reaching the end of the year is that it marks the gift giving season. While the holidays are excellent for all the feasting and togetherness that come along with them, not to mention the time off [...]

Book Review: The Gum Thief

September 23, 2007
Douglas Coupland’s latest effort, The Gum Thief (out in paperback October 2nd), is another addition to his collection of novels exploring the difficulty of acquiring and maintaining a satisfying sense of self in today’s fractured world. His novels tend to focus primarily on the postmodern struggle that is finding one’s place in this [...]

Restaurant Review: Blue Ribbon (Brooklyn)

July 30, 2007
Usually the words “Blue Ribbon” don’t conjure in my mind a very high-class image.  I think instead of the watery but much-beloved Pabst Blue Ribbon, which kept me and Liz nice and tipsy throughout our college years.  Note that PBR was actually cheap and hickish back in Tucson; in New York, it carries with it [...]

Two photography exhibits - David LaChapelle and “First Contact”

July 28, 2007
Many people confuse comedian/actor Dave Chapelle with accomplished photographer David LaChapelle.  I assume that at least some people walk into photo exhibitions of the latter and muse quietly to themselves, “Well, he was great as Rick James, but I had no idea he was so versatile!”  Or perhaps switch on the Chapelle show and wonder [...]

The Top 8 Dinners

July 18, 2007
8. FondueAny meal composed almost entirely of melted cheese automatically earns a spot in my heart, as well as on this list. However, I’m not falling for those trendy restaurants that serve up various versions of fondue that in no way resemble real fondue, like chocolate or broth for dipping meat into. Yes, I know [...]

Restaurant Review: Tacos Matamoros Restaurant

July 14, 2007
Liz, Chris and I have been searching for a halfway-decent Mexican restaurant in New York for going on three years now, as you might know if you’ve been reading our other Mexican food reviews.  I’m pleased to announce that we may have found the answer to our prayers in Tacos Matamoros Restaurant.  A fairly new [...]

Has Shaking Gone too Far?

July 12, 2007
Back in the day we loved McSalad Shakers so, but then for some reason they took them off the market. But not before we had learned the wonder and convenience that is making your meal better by shaking:We waited ten years, but now it’s finally here, the product to replace our shattered dreams. Behold Arby’s [...]

Dance Review: Romeo and Juliet

June 30, 2007
The other night I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see the American Ballet Theatre’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Performed at the magnificent Metropolitan Opera where classiness and thick, red carpeting abound, this was an excellent occasion on which to take in a bit of culture, and finally utilize my diamond-encrusted opera [...]

Restaurant Review: Girasol Bakery

June 25, 2007
One of the awesome things about living in the South Slope/North Sunset Park/Greenwood Heights area is the abundance of Mexican cuisine.  It took us a while to get used to it, coming from Tucson where Sonoran, Oaxacan and Mexico City style Mexican food is the norm.  Here in Brooklyn, the restaurants offer not the refried bean-and-cheese [...]