Celebrating Sondheim

Anyone that loves musical theater probably loves Stephen Sondheim. One of his best works is the Pulitzer Prize winner Sunday in the Park with George featuring Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin. They reunited nearly 30 years later to celebrate Sondheim's 80th birthday and sang "Move On". There's something about the way this song gets to me that's hard to describe.

St. Anthony Main Crawl- The Butcher Block

One night Claire Schafer and I decided to take a stroll in our St. Anthony Main/NE area for some grub and hopefully a cocktail. Silly of us to think we could waltz right in somewhere without having to wait for a table on a Friday night. Needless to say we came across a bunch of places we "have to go back to when it's not busy". Being the adventureous ones that we are, we decided we would attempt to eat/drink at each bar or restaurant in our area. Perfect idea for some blog posts.

Our First Stop: THE BUTCHER BLOCK
Monday, November 8th 5:50pm-7:00pm

We decided to go right after work as to beat the rush. Low and behold, I was the first customer there that evening. This Italian restaurant is tucked away and hard to see at first, but once inside is nice and cozy. The hostess and owner (maybe?) were really nice to me when I entered and answered all my random questions.

Our Menu for the Evening

2 glasses of the Gaucho Malbec

Bread-white, home-made, dense, hearty

Grilled Octopus (pictured) in lemon and olive oil- better than we thought, not quite as scary, "tastes like chicken AND fish". We both decided we would get this again

Capellini with Asaparus, Salmon, lemon cream sauce- DELICIOUS, various textures and flavors really came out. A little heavy due to cream sauce. Definitely get again

Ravioli with chicken, prosciutto, ricotta, tomato basil sauce- mixture inside of the pasta were flavorful. Claire liked the sauce, but I thought it was a little too simple and overpowered the flavor of the ravioli

RECAP: I enjoyed the small, cozy, quiet feel to it. This is the only location, which is great since it isn't a chain and ruled by corporate regulations. The menu is simple and to the point highlighting the different meals: antipasti, salade, pasta, secondi, dolci. The food was good but not amazing. I would defintiely go back and try a few different items again to get a better feel of the menu.

http://thebutcherblockrestaurant.com/

Weekend Movie Re-Cap

Yet again, I tried to squeeze in as many movies in as possible this weekend in between work and Godot rehearsals. It was time to dust off my Netflix and get crackin'

In order of viewing:
1. The Lovely Bones (2009)
2. Valentine's Day (2010)
3. The Strangers (2008)
4. Mommie Dearest (1981)

AND the #1 movie of the weekend was

It's a TIE! The Strangers and Mommie Dearest! I liked them both for very different reasons. While neither of them was perfect, they both had a lasting positive impression on me. I can't say the same about The Lovely Bones or Valentine's Day.

THE STRANGERS
Directed and Written by: Bryan Bertino
Starring: Liv Tyler (Armageddon, Lord of the Rings) and Scott Speedman (Felicity)

This is the kind of scary movie that I like. It's a fast paced, barely 80 minute thriller. A young couple returns home after a wedding reception ready to go to bed when a knock is heard at the door. They are out in the middle of nowhere (obviously!!) and decide to answer the door. Moments later they are being terrorized by three strangers wearing masks. You don't know why this couple is targeted, but they seem to be after Scott Speedman's character. I think what makes this movie on the scarier end of the spectrum is that it is all possible. I get mored scared by movies that could happen than impossible torture porn/gore fests.



MOMMIE DEAREST
Directed by: Frank Perry
Starring: Faye Dunaway (Bonnie and Clyde, The Network)

I finally got around to watching this cult classic. Mommie Dearest is based on the novel of the same name by Christina Crawford and follows the unknown side of legendary actress Joan Crawford as this crazy mother that physically and emotionally abused her daughter, Christina. This movie could have actually been even better if the director would have not made it soo campy at times. The campy factor is what people normally love about this movie. I think it cheapens the movie from what it could have been. Faye Dunaway is amazing as Joan. I think she perfectly fills the role of over-bearing and over-the-top. It's sad that Faye refuses to talk about the movie and many claim it ruined her career. You have to keep in mind that this story is told through the eyes of her daughter "who wanted the last say" after Joan died. You wonder how much is actually true. I actually think Joan Crawford was as crazy as the movie makes out.



Well, I'm in the thick of rehearsals with a show opening this week. It may be a few weeks before I see some more movies. Maybe in the mean time I will do a special Halloween themed scary movies blog dedicated to my favorite scary movies. Until then.

-P McG

Unleash Your Inner Foodie

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am writing some foodie themed movie reviews for my friend DeeAnn McArdle's blog. Her blog is entitled "Unleash Your Inner Foodie". DeeAnn told me October is National Pizza Month. I had no idea! The first entry for DeeAnn's blog would be based on movies where pizza makes an appearance. I decided to watch a new movie (Mystic Pizza) and revisit some favorites (Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Home Alone). I also give two options on what to do the next time you want to stay in, eat a pizza, and snuggle in front of a movie.

http://unleashyourinnerfoodie.com/blog/uncategorized/foodie-movies-pizza-themes/

Movie Recap of Last Week

Weekend Movie Recap (even though it’s a bit late…)

Shockingly enough, I managed to watch three new movies this past week
1. Mystic Pizza (1988)
2. Easy A (2010)
3. The Social Network (2010)

Of these three contenders, The Best Movie of the Week goes to:

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Rooney Mara, Joseph Mazzello

Since it is October and many of the best movies of the year haven’t come out yet, I cannot call it the best movie of 2010 yet. It definitely has the potential to be though. David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) directs this movie with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, “The West Wing”) who based his screenplay off of the book “The Accidental Billionaires”. The Social Network follows the story of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and what spirals out of the simple creation of a social networking site for Harvard that ended up with 500 million users throughout the world. What could have been a geeky computer movie turns out to be a very taught fast paced legal drama/thriller. The movie cuts back and forth between the creation of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg battling two lawsuits. One coming from his best friend/college roommate who was the CFO of Facebook and the other by a set of rich athletic twins that claim Mark stole their idea after he had a meeting with them. I honestly did not know much about the creation of Facebook or how it became such a cultural phenomenon. All I know is that I spend way too much of my time on it every day. You learn pretty quickly that Mark is being sued by his best friend, and that Facebook has over 500 million users. You immediately get sucked into the lives of these not-so-innocent Harvard students as you watch the downhill spiral of how it all turns out. Granted some of the movie is dramatized, you can’t help but wonder if most of it is actually true or what the filmmakers dramatized. As you leave the theater, it makes you question why you ever joined such a silly thing as Facebook anyway and question what this society has come to. I don’t think you need to neither be on Facebook nor understand what Facebook is all about to appreciate this movie. It’s not so much about Facebook itself, but as what happens when an idea you have makes you a billionaire and who in your life thinks they are entitled to your fortune.

Here's the trailer:

Ode to the Video Store

When I was a child, I don't remember roaming the aisles of the toy store or the candy store. I remember roaming the VIDEO store. That's right. My love of movies traces back to as far as I remember. I remember my step-dad rushing me after I had spent an hour slowly pacing the aisles at the Blockbuster on Central Avenue in Columbia Heights. I remember trying to convince my dad to let me rent two movies from Mr. Movies in Shoreview when we spent the weekends at his condo. I even spent five years of my life working at an independently owed video store that sold porn and normal movies. Was 15 too young to sell porn to sleazy old men?

With the dawn of Netflix (I'm a subscriber) and RedBox (never tried), video stores have slowly gone out of business. Hollywood Video went goodbye. Blockbuster has filed for bankruptcy. What are people supposed to do if they are in the mood for a good old catalog title? An oldie but a goodie? You can't get those through RedBox. What if you're craving a movie and don't want to wait 2 days for Netflix? What's a desperate movie geek to do?

Last night, I was in the mood to watch "Mystic Pizza" as part of my new duty to write foodie movie reviews for a foodie blog. LUCKILY, Video Stardom in the Quarry came to the rescue! They were still open. I went in and was in heaven. Not only were they playing "Hocus Pocus" in the background, but they had my movie in stock! I filled out my membership card and paid for my video. Wait, I mean DVD. Today at work, I got a courtesy call from them asking how my first rental was. Now that is good customer service.

Oh, how I wish there were more video stores around.

-P McG

DVR, How I Love Thee!

Shockingly enough, I have not dropped off the face of the planet. I am currently sitting in my new one bedroom apartment watching today's Jeopardy that I have DVRed. DVR is becoming a new love in my life. Is that sad? I had to get it in order to stay caught up with the new television season starting. Due to the fact that I am NEVER home, this was my only answer. I just can't get behind on Glee or Modern Family like I did last season. Let's not forget about Parenthood either.

I moved into the new pad about two weeks ago and have been loving it ever since. It's fascinating what living alone can be like. Being the "hoarder" that I am I literally couldn't have done it without all of the help I received. I didn't realize what a huge pain and how stressful moving is. I've moved numerous times before, but this was my far the most stressful move. Holy hell.

The Fringe show is over, and I've moved onto a beast of a play. "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett. It's no easy script either. The challenge is what makes it interesting and exciting.

Okay, I will totally try to blog more often. More fun items too and not just once-a-month life updates. I had a wonderful brunch with a family friend the other day. She asked me to write movie reviews for her foodie blog she writes. I accepted the challenge and will contribute a movie review based on a foodie movie at least once a month. I haven't decided on the first movie yet. I've got some ideas though. Stay tuned for updates!

-P McG

July, where did you go?

Does anyone else feel like July flew by faster than it should have? All of a sudden I was flipping my James Bond calendar at work, and it donned on me that July disappeared.

Highlight #1- I spent four terrific days at The Cabin. The Cabin means the world to me. As a child, I hated going to the cabin. Now I should mention that there was no cabin at the time, more of a camper in a garage on a plot of land. Fifteen years later, my parents (and others) have almost finished building The Cabin. Talk about a getaway. There's something about getting away from your usual life/routine that is so refreshing to me. I can literally go up to The Cabin and forget about everything else in life. Pure bliss. It's even better when you can spend it with friends lounging on the pontoon drinking the day away, playing cards, and watching Drop Dead Gorgeous more than once.

Highlight #2- NEW JOB! I started working for Capella University, and it's been a quite a shocking surprise. Whenever you start a new job, there are trepidations that it's not the right fit or you hate your coworkers or it's boring as all hell. None of this happened. I have awesome teammates who literally make me laugh really loud ever day. I'm sure the people a few rows down are beyond sick of my obnoxious laughter.

Highlight #3- Fringe rehearsals. It nice to get back into the rehearsal process and know that I'm doing a show again. I haven't done a Fringe show in years, and it's been a fast process that I quickly had to adapt too. We open BAD DEEDS DONE BAD this Saturday August 7th at 10pm at Theatre in the Round. Here are the details if you are interested. Did I mention I play a teddy bear?

Highlight #4- Apartment Hunting. 8 apartment showings later and I finally found one. THANK GOD. No, seriously. I hate moving, especially the apartment hunting part of the move. You inevitably have to look at a bunch of duds before you find that right one. Now I just have to finish the novel of an application I was given and pack up all of my shit. I've got so much stuff I think I could qualify for "Hoarders".

Well Golden Girls is almost over, I'm getting tired, and my laundry needs to be put in the dryer. Cheers for clean socks!

-P McG

Summer Blockbusters...Or Lack There Of

I'm taking a break from cleaning before I get to work on my Fringe script. More on the Fringe later.

Tis the season of summer popcorn blockbusters. Tis the season where I swear I will get to more movies than the previous summer. Tis the season where I once again fail at that goal. Oops.

Let's just take a quick glimpse at the summer movies I've seen SO FAR: Sex and the City 2, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Toy Story 3, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Yes, you have read correctly. That is only 4 movies. I know I know. I have disappointed myself and my readers. Ones I have missed: Iron Man 2, Robin Hood, Shrek Forever After, The A-Team, Letters to Juliet, How to Train You Dragon, Marmaduke. Oh wait, I had NO intention of seeing Marmaduke so you can just forget I mentioned it. I actually spent a few of my Friday nights hitting up the Trylon seeing old Spielberg movies. It was so awesome seeing Jaws, Close Encounters, and Jurassic Park on a bigger screen again. After looking at the list of recent box office stats, I realized I really haven't missed out on any amazing movies this summer. Sex and the City 2 was disappointing for sure. I liked it yes, but left the theater really disappointed. Prince of Persia was good for some Jake Gyllenhaal action but that was about it. Eclipse was super fun and the best of the Twilight series. That leads us to the best movie of the summer... drumroll.... TOY STORY 3!!!!! You may be saying to yourself, "Paul, grow up". "Paul, it's a kids movie" "Toy Story 3? Really?" Don't judge until you see it. Toy Story 3 has more story, character, feeling, and emotion than most movies these days. Once again, Pixar has crafted a very touching movie that just gets to me. By the end, I found myself weeping a little. I wasn't sure why but all of a sudden the tear ducts opened up, and Pixar touched me once again.

It's been a busy summer so far. 3 weddings, leaving a job and starting a job, working at other jobs, Fringe rehearsals, and a wonderful trip to La Crosse have made for some busy weekends. I am doing my SECOND Fringe show ever. I will be appearing in "Bad Things Done Bad" at Theatre in the Round this August as part of the MN Fringe Festival. It's a cross between "August: Osage County" and "Avenue Q". I play two very different roles so it should be very interesting. One of those roles happens who be a teddy bear that isn't quite the moral bear he should be.

Speaking of "Bad Things Done Bad", I should get a crack at that script before bed time hits. I guess the next blog will have to be about the new job, as I really haven't touched on it yet.

Until then,
P McG

Movin' on up...or just down the street.

I haven't blogged in a while. I guess that's a clear sign of how boring my life can be. UNTIL NOW! bum bum bum... BTW while I write this I am switching back and forth between Batman Begins and Kathy Griffin on The Joy Behar Show. So what, who cares?!?!

Now that the cat is out of the bag and most people know, I can now publicly say that I am leaving Illusion Theater and working just down the road at Capella University. I worked at Illusion for three and a half years and have finally decided it was time to move on. The job was such a huge part of my life for many reasons, so it's very weird knowing that I will be leaving. It's like graduating from school I guess. You spend four years in school having it consume your life and then all of a sudden you're two weeks from graduating and your head starts spinning in confusion. I will have to get used to a new sleep schedule and more money in my checking account. I hope I can get used to this concept. A new job, new assignments, new co-workers, new responsibilities. Daunting yet exciting. I am one of those firm believers in change. Change is good. You should embrace change and look at life in a new way. I'm just looking forward to the overall life that hopefully will come of this.

More details to come once I start this new position come June 28th. In the meantime, I will scramble to get a shit ton accomplished before I leave Illusion.


--P McG

UPDATE from the Vampire Blog. I finished reading Eclipse, finished reading the first two Sookie Stackhouse books and finished watching True Blood Season 2. TB S2 was AMAZING...Couldn't peel my eyes away from it. Alan Ball is a genius. First came American Beauty then came Six Feet Under and now True Blood. Serious genius here