BAD TEACHER - a Movie Review

So last night me and a date went to see “Bad Teacher”.  For an opening night the theatre was pretty empty.  After the critics review it was no wonder.  But I was hungry for a movie and went anyway.

The character Cameron Diaz portrays is a juicy one.  It is the antithesis of the character she played in “There’s Something About Mary.”  A middle school teacher who bides her time while plotting to snag her platinum Visa meal ticket.

Despite what the critics are saying go see it.  Unplug your expectations and just enjoy the fluff and entertainment that this little movie provides.

Staycation plans

So vacation is a week and a half away.  So much I want to do.  Financially I’m trying to keep it simple.  I bought a LIRR pass for a day possibility two in NYC.   After the week is over I hope to have pictures and reviews for the following places:

 It is there that I’m dying to finally visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see: Alexander McQueen Exhibit http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/

Also on my list of things to do is go back to The Joyce Theatre to see the performance of tap dancer, actor, Savion Glover http://www.joyce.org/performancestickets/calendar_detail.php?event=362&theater=1

If I sit in the cheapie seats the performance is a mere $10

Also I plan on catching at least one performance at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre http://www.ucbtheatre.com/

$5 for a show how can you beat that?

And last but not least I hope to finally visit Alice’s Tea Cup.  http://www.alicesteacup.com/

The Other places I want to see and do are on Long Island.  They include trying out a local yoga place that I’ve driven by but never tried called Kashmir Hands http://www.kashmirhands.com/contact_us.html

Screw the hot yoga give me something I can manage no matter what my age and/or fitness level may be. 

MORE TO COME.

X-MEN First Class : A movie review

So I just got back from seeing the newest installment in the X-Men series.  It’s a prequel that takes place from the 40-60s of the earliest X-Men adventures.

Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Bastards, Fish Tank) as Erik Lehnsherr giving a deliciously evil performance.    James MacEvoy (Atonement, The Last King of Scotland) as Charles Xavier.  Other stars were Jennifer Lawrence (Winters Bone) as Mystique and a surprising return of Nicholas Hault (About a Boy) as Beast.

If you’re an X-Men do not wait, go see asap!   Either way it was one of the most entertaining flicks I’ve seen in a while.

A day trip to NYC - Memorial Day Weekend

So for Memorial Day weekend I wanted to get myself outside and eventually into NYC.  I had a few things in mind.

Me and a friend took the train bright and early into Penn Station.  From the we jumped onto the subway and headed uptown to Central Park.  Got off on 86^th Street and smack dap into some type of fair.  It was hot as blazes out.  We did abit of browsing by the jewelry vendors while listening to a small jazz trio nearby.

Before losing my nerve, and energy, we headed toward the park and onto one of the best places rollerbladers can go.   We started in the uppers 80’s on the West Side and went around some of the park.  I don’t think all of it.  We circled around which brought up to the East Side and once around again.  We exited on the East Side in the 50’s in search of food and culture. 

During our skate, the hills, were very scary.  From previous times there I worried I might fall, pushing my thighs to the limit to slow down and getting a good workout from it.

After that my friend indulged me by walking way too long to our eating destination.  During our walk we discovered the Will Ryman Rose Sculpture Exhibition that ends soon.  http://www.examiner.com/culture-in-new-york/will-ryman-s-rose-sculptures-brighten-park-avenue-through-may-slideshow

Finally we arrived at our destination after walking some 2 miles @ Big Daddy’s.   A fun place me and my sister used to go to.  http://www.bigdaddysnyc.com/locations-upper-west-side.php

Its chock full of pop culture unassuming and fun.  It changed though, the whole eatery was much larger now and without the second story loft the original store had.  My only pet peeve was the menu selections were pared down to a minimum.  I wanted to walk out, if not for my companion, I would have.

Originally I wanted to check out the Alexander McQueen Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/mets-mcqueen-exhibit-extended-2291190.html.  But by the time we were done eating it was after 4:00 and on Sunday’s the museum closes @ 5, so that’s a different adventure for another time.

After we ate we walked another (almost) 50 city blocks in the sweltering heat, knowing for sure my legs and feet were truly getting a workout that bordered on cruel. 

After a short wait accompanied by a large vanilla frozen yogurt we were back on the train and heading for home.

Prelude to a restaurant review

So typically on Mondays I have my son over for dinner and a movie.  Usually I cook.  Tonight I’m thinking of taking him to Villa Marcello 47 Franklin Avenue, Malverne, NY (516) 256-3161.  I pass by there all the time and on Tuesday they advertisement a buffet for $12.95 I think.  I’ve been wanting to try it for a while.  Two weeks ago I had their pizza which was pretty decent as NY Pizza goes.  See review tomorrow.

BRIDESMAIDS - A MOVIE REVIEW

So on a rainy Sunday afternoon I took my mom to go see “Bridesmaids” starring SNL actress Kristen Wiig as the suffering single girl who is asked to be Maid of Honor at her BFF’s wedding.  The commercials made this flick seem like the female version of “The Hangover”.  IT ISN'T.  And also please note:  the teasers were more than misleading.  While there are a few laughs in this movie I found some of the scenes too long.  Some of the sight gags that were meant to be funny, were overly done.  I believe the phrase beating-a-dead-horse comes to mind.

While this is probably a “must see” flick for all brides to be this year, the rest should just sit tight and wait for it on DVD.

What’s Next? (This weekend and beyond)

In the next few days I will be catching (reviewing) “127 Hours” on DVD as well as Bridesmaids on Sunday afternoon with my mom.

Recently I received a brief catalog from the boutique-ish Joyce Theatre showcasing their upcoming performances for the remainder of 2011.

The one that piqued my interest is Momix.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_igxPpb4O4.  It won’t be until December but some things are worth waiting for.  I enjoy adore the anticipation of something bizarre yet provocative.  I’m snagging my friend Bonnie for this one.  I’d like to have a witness as to the gem of a theatre the Joyce is and all the striking performances that the Joyce makes available at unbeatable price.