Yesterday I went and tried a new restaurant with my sister, Elizabeth. I don't usually go new places which was evident during this trip because I was wide eyed and looking at everything. It dawned on me that I really don't try new places all that often. Then as we talked my sister reminded me that I had tried two new places this month.
The first new eatery I tried was for lunch with my sister (we eat a lot together when she is off a day from work) and was in Burbank. The place is called Dino's Pizza. It is pretty much a hole in the wall type shack on a corner. They offer pizza and other yummy items I'm sure. We had pizza and some amazing garlic cheese bread. I love pizza; I also believe that it should be one of the main food groups. Seriously, it has grains (the crust), vegetables (the tomato sauce), dairy (the cheese), and then any other assortments of meat, vegetable and cheese options. See a major food group all on its own. We had a delicious pepperoni pizza and I would totally go back again. There two downsides. The first is the parking, the lot is shared with a mechanic so when both are open the parking is very limited. Second, there is not a huge seating area if you plan to eat there. We went late in the afternoon so it wasn't too bad but I can imagine that it could get packed at busy times of the day. Here's their website if you want to check them out or if you are local go try it Dino's Pizza Burbank.
Yesterday was another opportunity to try a new place. We live close to a shopping center that has two restaurants. One of them is called Cici's Café. This place always has people in the parking lot waiting on the weekends. We were lucky today as there wasn't a crowd and got seated quickly. The menu was incredible, pages and pages of various types of pancakes, French toast, waffles, crepes, and many other foods. I know you're thinking wow what an opportunity to branch out and try something new. Not quite. I had French toast that had cinnamon and powder sugar, pretty much regular French toast with a side of bacon. Elizabeth opted for the traditional pancakes with a side of original café sausage. The French toast was delicious. The pieces of bread were huge, I melted butter on the toast, poured the syrup and dug in. To say it was great doesn't describe it. You have to try it. I can't say anything about the pancakes because I didn't try them, but they were as huge as my French toast. The bacon was like any ordinary bacon. The sausage my sister got was good though.
Finally last night was another attempt at trying something new. My mom, Tony and I went to try Dickey's Barbecue Pit. It was weird to say the least. I went in expecting a sit down restaurant but was surprised to see it was more like a Subway. You start at one end and tell the person what you want and they reach into a large refrigerator and pull out your choice of meat and open the plastic wrap. I had a two meat meal and tried the sliced beef brisket and old recipe polish sausage. The sides I chose were macaroni and cheese and fried onion tanglers. The brisket was OK and the polish sausage was on the spicy side. The macaroni and cheese was just bad and the onions were good. Overall, it was interesting, but I'm not sure I'll go back real soon. Depends on how adventurous I feel. Go ahead and check out their website and give them a try Dickey's Barbecue Pit.
Now I'm wondering where I will try next time. Of course not sure how long it will be before I try something new.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
So Many Movies I Want to See
There are so many movies out that I want to see. Times wasting away, I mean January is almost over. I figured I would share a list of the films I hope to see soon.
There will be more and I may miss some because they may not be in theaters long. I always find it interesting that some movies come and go so quickly. Fingers crossed that I can get to some of these and share my thoughts on them.
- Lincoln
- Mama
- Gangster Squad
- Broken City
- Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
- Movie 43
- Warm Bodies
- Identity Thief
- Side Effects
- Beautiful Creatures
There will be more and I may miss some because they may not be in theaters long. I always find it interesting that some movies come and go so quickly. Fingers crossed that I can get to some of these and share my thoughts on them.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Les Miserables
I have waited quite awhile to write about this movie. I saw it over a week ago. I had to give myself time to come down from the heady high I was in. So before I go any further let me give you some history about me.
I've been told that when I was little I saw a commercial for CATS (the musical) and said I want to do that. I took dance classes, voice lessons, and was even a theater major in college. I had done a lot of shows when I was little all of various kinds. In college I was more behind the scenes then in front of an audience. It never bothered me. One of my favorite experiences in college was being a stage manager for a play. I was absolutely in heaven with what path I had chosen.
In my early preteen and teen years I saw numerous musicals. From CATS to The Who's Tommy. I loved everyone of them. I even saw The Phantom of the Opera on stage in Los Angeles over 100 times (I loved the music and the story). I never got to see Les Miserables . . yet. So for me this film was my first time to experience the action with the music. I know it can't be compared because film is far different from live theater so I won't even go there. I just felt you should know my history.
The opening of the film is when Jean Valjean is in prison, him and the others are pulling a badly damaged ship into a dry dock for repairs. This is also the first time we see Javert overseeing the prisoners. From there we see him released but marked as a prisoner on parole. He would never know a life without this mark. He travels and ends up in a church, taken in by the priest. The first act of kindness he has received. A major turning point in his life. The best part about this is that Colm Wilkinson is the priest, he has portrayed Valjean in numerous cities. A real treat, at least for me.
I could go on with the whole story but I don't want to be a bore. Overall the story is one of rebuilding a life, making a promise, keeping that promise, and just paying forward all the kindness that Valjean was shown that one night at the church. At least that's what he had hoped until his identity becomes known and he is once again on the run from the authorities to keep his promise to Fantine.
Hugh Jackman was amazing! If you saw him host the Oscars with Anne Hathaway then you know this man is talented. He brought the character to life, you always could see in his eyes and body language that he remembered where he came from and where he wanted to be. What he hoped he could be to Cosette. His voice is crystal, overwhelming with emotion, and beautiful. He is reminiscent of the actors that came before him, those that could sing, dance and act.
Anne Hathaway was extremely beautiful even at the lowest point of her life, her Fantine exuded brilliance, life, despair and pride. I saw her interviewed by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show before I had seen the movie and she discussed the filming of her song I Dreamed a Dream. It couldn't be more perfect that way it is presented in the film. She makes you feel that passion that any mother would have to protect her child at all cost.
I heard of some instances where critics did not enjoy or like Russell Crowe's performance as Javert. I would disagree with them. He is the part. He is authoritative, passionate and is duty bound to his position in the government. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance, his voice dark, heavy and gravelly. I loved his rendition of Stars. I think he was perfectly cast and fulfilled his role as well as many others he has had.
I only mention the three, but truly everyone in the film is incredible. It could not have been cast any better. It brought together many of the talented performers in Hollywood that have the ability to hold their own and come together to be a cohesive cast that brought this musical from the stage to the arena of film.
I'm still hoping that one day I will get to see Les Miserables on the stage and I'm sure I will the next time it is in Los Angeles.
And as I always do, here is a link to the IMDB page of the movie Les Miserables.
I've been told that when I was little I saw a commercial for CATS (the musical) and said I want to do that. I took dance classes, voice lessons, and was even a theater major in college. I had done a lot of shows when I was little all of various kinds. In college I was more behind the scenes then in front of an audience. It never bothered me. One of my favorite experiences in college was being a stage manager for a play. I was absolutely in heaven with what path I had chosen.
In my early preteen and teen years I saw numerous musicals. From CATS to The Who's Tommy. I loved everyone of them. I even saw The Phantom of the Opera on stage in Los Angeles over 100 times (I loved the music and the story). I never got to see Les Miserables . . yet. So for me this film was my first time to experience the action with the music. I know it can't be compared because film is far different from live theater so I won't even go there. I just felt you should know my history.
The opening of the film is when Jean Valjean is in prison, him and the others are pulling a badly damaged ship into a dry dock for repairs. This is also the first time we see Javert overseeing the prisoners. From there we see him released but marked as a prisoner on parole. He would never know a life without this mark. He travels and ends up in a church, taken in by the priest. The first act of kindness he has received. A major turning point in his life. The best part about this is that Colm Wilkinson is the priest, he has portrayed Valjean in numerous cities. A real treat, at least for me.
I could go on with the whole story but I don't want to be a bore. Overall the story is one of rebuilding a life, making a promise, keeping that promise, and just paying forward all the kindness that Valjean was shown that one night at the church. At least that's what he had hoped until his identity becomes known and he is once again on the run from the authorities to keep his promise to Fantine.
Hugh Jackman was amazing! If you saw him host the Oscars with Anne Hathaway then you know this man is talented. He brought the character to life, you always could see in his eyes and body language that he remembered where he came from and where he wanted to be. What he hoped he could be to Cosette. His voice is crystal, overwhelming with emotion, and beautiful. He is reminiscent of the actors that came before him, those that could sing, dance and act.
Anne Hathaway was extremely beautiful even at the lowest point of her life, her Fantine exuded brilliance, life, despair and pride. I saw her interviewed by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show before I had seen the movie and she discussed the filming of her song I Dreamed a Dream. It couldn't be more perfect that way it is presented in the film. She makes you feel that passion that any mother would have to protect her child at all cost.
I heard of some instances where critics did not enjoy or like Russell Crowe's performance as Javert. I would disagree with them. He is the part. He is authoritative, passionate and is duty bound to his position in the government. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance, his voice dark, heavy and gravelly. I loved his rendition of Stars. I think he was perfectly cast and fulfilled his role as well as many others he has had.
I only mention the three, but truly everyone in the film is incredible. It could not have been cast any better. It brought together many of the talented performers in Hollywood that have the ability to hold their own and come together to be a cohesive cast that brought this musical from the stage to the arena of film.
I'm still hoping that one day I will get to see Les Miserables on the stage and I'm sure I will the next time it is in Los Angeles.
And as I always do, here is a link to the IMDB page of the movie Les Miserables.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Laid Up
Well it seems that my plans to see a movie every week has to be put on hold.
I had to get a tetanus shot on Wednesday and then saw my doctor Friday. I was told to elevate my foot as much as possible because of the bite. That means no walking or really normal sitting for awhile.
I hope to go next week. So many good movies out and I want to see them. For now I'll survive with my DVDs and Netflix.
I had to get a tetanus shot on Wednesday and then saw my doctor Friday. I was told to elevate my foot as much as possible because of the bite. That means no walking or really normal sitting for awhile.
I hope to go next week. So many good movies out and I want to see them. For now I'll survive with my DVDs and Netflix.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Sometimes Life Hits Hard
It's been awhile. I haven't been to the movies since I saw Sinister. I have however been watching plenty of holiday movies between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes however life gets in the way.
The first week of December my cat Sport went missing. I was heartbroken, lethargic, and wondering why a cat who has lived indoors all his life would ever want to go outside. There are many possibilities of how and why he got out. I went to the shelters that were local and left fliers in the hopes that if he ended up there I could get him back. Then something strange and wonderful happened. I heard a meow while in the bathroom, I ran outside thinking he was right under the window, but he wasn't there. I convinced myself that I was just hearing things because I wanted him back so much. Then a day or so lately, sitting in the living room with my mom and Tony, we all heard a meow, faint and pleading. We took off in different directions, mom and I out the front door, and my other half out the back door. Still we couldn't see him and heard no other meowing. Finally, Tony started looking at the crawl space under the house and thought maybe he's under the house. We put a can of wet food out in the crawl space and waited. Tony went out to look and there he was! Skinny and scared but there, alive. He's made a full recovery and gained the weight back he's lost. My life went back to feeling normal and I was looking forward to December.
Well then of course there's been the last few weeks. I started a new job in the second week of December and that pulled my focus to get acclimated and be successful. Tony had to work a few Saturdays and we just weren't getting out to movies like we had planned. Christmas came and went and still no new movies were seen. We were watching our holiday favorites: A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carol, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Elf, The Ref, Fred Clause, It's a Wonderful Life, and White Christmas. On a continuous loop they went through the DVD player.
So now it is the third day of the new year, 2013. Tony and I have plans to once again see a new movie every week. We are going to try for Lincoln this Saturday, I've got my fingers crossed everything falls into place. And hopefully nothing gets in the way, of course I did get bit today on my little pinkie toe, but that probably won't keep me from limping to the movie theater.
Here's to 2013!
The first week of December my cat Sport went missing. I was heartbroken, lethargic, and wondering why a cat who has lived indoors all his life would ever want to go outside. There are many possibilities of how and why he got out. I went to the shelters that were local and left fliers in the hopes that if he ended up there I could get him back. Then something strange and wonderful happened. I heard a meow while in the bathroom, I ran outside thinking he was right under the window, but he wasn't there. I convinced myself that I was just hearing things because I wanted him back so much. Then a day or so lately, sitting in the living room with my mom and Tony, we all heard a meow, faint and pleading. We took off in different directions, mom and I out the front door, and my other half out the back door. Still we couldn't see him and heard no other meowing. Finally, Tony started looking at the crawl space under the house and thought maybe he's under the house. We put a can of wet food out in the crawl space and waited. Tony went out to look and there he was! Skinny and scared but there, alive. He's made a full recovery and gained the weight back he's lost. My life went back to feeling normal and I was looking forward to December.
Well then of course there's been the last few weeks. I started a new job in the second week of December and that pulled my focus to get acclimated and be successful. Tony had to work a few Saturdays and we just weren't getting out to movies like we had planned. Christmas came and went and still no new movies were seen. We were watching our holiday favorites: A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carol, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Elf, The Ref, Fred Clause, It's a Wonderful Life, and White Christmas. On a continuous loop they went through the DVD player.
So now it is the third day of the new year, 2013. Tony and I have plans to once again see a new movie every week. We are going to try for Lincoln this Saturday, I've got my fingers crossed everything falls into place. And hopefully nothing gets in the way, of course I did get bit today on my little pinkie toe, but that probably won't keep me from limping to the movie theater.
Here's to 2013!
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