ALBUM REVIEW Soundtrack for the summer laziness
As an artist known for his gentle voice and acoustic stylings, Jack Johnson is a pro at creating lounge music to set the mood. His fifth and newest album, 2010‘s <i>To the Sea</i>, stands out for just that: a unique feel-good vibe that makes you want to keep listening.
MOVIE REVIEW The Last Airbender: Shyamalan flops again
As fans of the animated series the movie is based on, and as human beings in general, watching <i>The Last Airbender</i> was a painful experience. Fans will mourn the film’s lack of resemblance to the original; everyone else will mourn the ghost of M. Night Shyamalan’s storytelling ability.
CONCERT REVIEW Give me the funk: War kicks off concert series at the Hatch Shell
With bubbles floating through the air and peace signs diffusing through the crowd at a rate that would have impressed even Robert Brown, the flower children of Boston made a comeback at the first of 103.3 WODS’s Free Summer Concert Series on June 19, featuring the wildly popular 70’s funk band, War.
Uptown Espresso
Mandatory meetings at 9 o’clock in the morning should not happen, especially for software interns (and MIT students), whose natural sleep-cycle is more similar to that of a loris than a normal, functional member of society. But it happens, and it’s times like these when I’m glad to be working in Seattle, a city which boasts quite a competence in caffeinated beverages. After all, this is the home of the international coffeehouse chain which brought you the Frappuccino. Needless to say, after my meeting I needed a quality cup to get me through the day, and so I made my way around the corner to Uptown Espresso for a caffeine fix and some breakfast.
MOVIE REVIEW Crossing the finish line with <br />Spirit of the Marathon
<i>Spirit of the Marathon</i> is a rare documentary movie that tries to capture the drama and essence of the 26.2 mile running event. Director Jon Dunham and his crew filmed on four continents to chronicle the experiences of six very different marathon runners throughout their training and closing with their performances in the 2005 Chicago Marathon. The film focuses on two elite runners who focus on winning the race: American Champion and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor and the Kenyan professional runner Daniel Njenga. The film also displays the struggles and successes of the five amateur runners Ryan Bradley, Leah Calle, Gerald Myers and Lori O’Connor. “The reason that most people run the marathon is that it is a challenge for them. And whether it’s physical, mental or both – it’s something that helps them in their everyday life” explains Marathon champion Alberto Salazar.
Alta
Once you’ve made the tourist pilgrimage to NYC, later trips usually revolve around exploring the more obscure offerings of the City. Since I always find myself in situations where I need to optimally allocate my monetary funds between food and shopping, I end up settling on tasty but relatively budget-friendly eats.
MOVIE REVIEW A moving story of a childhood’s end
The culmination of what may be Pixar’s magnum opus,<i> Toy Story 3 </i>is hands-down one of the best movies of the year.<i> Toy Story 3</i>, like the first two, follows the adventures of a group of sentient toys. The stars are, as in previous installments, Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is a cowboy doll based on a fictional 40’s and 50’s TV series called Woody’s Roundup. His former-rival-turned-friend Buzz (voiced by Tim Allen) is a space marine doll with a surprising level of self-awareness—most of the time.
MOVIE REVIEW Enjoyable for fans, but questionable for others
This is not the type of movie you see unless you’re genuinely interested in the characters. Sure, it seems to have all the makings of a fun girl movie; unlike such series as The Lord of the Rings, where knowledge of the books is a nice supplement but completely unnecessary for appreciation of the films themselves. Some prior exposure to Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha is a definite prerequisite for any real appreciation of the Sex and the City film series.
Teru Sushi
Having grown up in Los Angeles, I’ve learned to recognize good sushi. My friends and I are regular haunts at the best not-too-expensive sushi place in our suburb of Burbank, and when we’re really in the mood, will drive up to an hour and a half for the ultimate all-you-can-eat experience.
ALBUM REVIEW Stars paint memories in shades of longing
If anyone asked me what band I could listen to without ever getting sick of them, I’d have to say hands down, it is Stars. Stars, a Canadian indie pop band, is closely related to the band Broken Social Scene (actually, all of the members of Stars are members of BSS). The band is known for setting poetry to music; it is difficult to describe their musical style without using the words beautiful or ethereal. Their characteristic electronic sound is interwoven with string instrumentation, narrative lyrics, and soothing, caressing vocals. Their songs range from whispered words to upbeat numbers. I can’t help but gush about the vocals. Quite a few of their songs feature duet vocals with Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan, whose voices create a harmony that cannot be duplicated easily.
Busboys and Poets
I’m struggling to put my finger on Busboys and Poets: part restaurant, part bookstore, part slam poetry venue, and all-around hipster. Their website describes their location as a “gathering place where people can discuss issues of social justice and peace [in] an environment where shared conversations over food and drink allow the progressive, artistic and literary communities to dialogue, educate and interact.” Sounds like something the Bohemians would say in the Moulin Rouge.
Urbana Restaurant & Wine Bar
DC in the summer is a town full of ambitious and caffeinated interns who, after 5 p.m., slide out of their awkward, ill-fitting new suits to hit up the various happy hours around town. I admit it’s been fun, but one night, I was looking for a change: I was willing to spend more than $1 per drink or appetizer in exchange for good food in even better company.
Lifestyle, Yes. Life and Style, No.
Today, Grace Kelly may just be the song title of a mildly annoying, sugar-coated pop song by Mika, but thirty years ago, Grace Kelly was one of the most photographed women of the twentieth century. An Academy Award-winning American actress, she became a film star just as suddenly as she married a real prince, became Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and then tragically died in a car accident.
‘Black & White’ fades into grey
Jiri Kylian’s Black and White closed for Boston Ballet’s 2009-2010 season. It was a familiar return from its initial premiere with the Boston Ballet in 2005. With the exception of its performances in Boston, the pieces have only been performed in the Netherlands. Although back by popular demand, considering its contemporary avant-garde style, Black and White is still a unique addition in comparison to the other more classical pieces of the Boston Ballet season.
RESTAURANT REVIEW Fresh French feasts right in our backyard
I finally understand how Craigie On Main has appeared on the “Best of Boston” list year after year. After just my first visit, it easily moved to the top of my list, too. Off Main Street in Central Square, Craigie is anything but casual, perfectly pairing complex French cuisine with the simple taste of local New England. Classic 1920s prints decorate one wall, while another is adorned with myriad cooking pots and books. The rustic French design is complimented by a spacious open kitchen where diners can watch Chef Tony Maws busy at his art. The menu fluctuates with the seasons, and it’s compiled only with the freshest and often organic, but always local meats, fish, and vegetables. If you’re craving passionfruit out of season, you won’t find it on this menu. But if you want the richest, tangiest rhubarb flavor during the spring, the “Market Fruits Crisp” paired with canela ice cream is definitely for you.
RESTAURANT REVIEW Jazz it up with some EVOO
Though I don’t normally think of Kendall Square as the happenin’ place in town (most of the Cambridge nightlife and restaurants are clustered in Central Square), EVOO has spiced up the scene and brought the crowds to an area previously devoid of palatable pizazz. EVOO (which stands for “extra virgin olive oil”), though new to the Kendall Square area behind the Mariott hotel, is no newbie to the culinary world. The restaurant moved from Somerville just over a month ago.
BALLET REVIEW Balanchine presented via a trio sampler
The<i> Ultimate Balanchine</i> is not a ballet centralized around a single storyline. It instead focuses on the famous choreographer George Balanchine (1904-1983), known both for his mastery of traditional ballet technique and for his revolutionary style that founded modern ballet. The <i>Ultimate Balanchine</i> is a compilation of three of Balanchine’s ballets: <i>The Four Temperaments</i>, <i>Apollo,</i> composed by Igor Stravinsky, and <i>Theme and Variations,</i> composed by Tchaikovsky. The very distinct styles piece together form a program that displays the extensive range of Balanchine’s career.