And As the Years Go By, Our Friendship Will Never Die…

In 1995, the Walt Disney Company and Pixar introduced the world to Toy Store, a movie made completely using computer generated images (CGI). It also introduced us to Andy and his toys: Woody the Cowboy (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Hamm (John Ratzenberg), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) and the Aliens from Pizza Planet.

Fifteen years and a sequel later, Toy Story 3 picks up as Andy has finally grown up and is packing for college. His days of play are behind him and his toys—now including Jessie the Cowgirl (Joan Cusack), Mrs. Potato Head (Estelle Harris) and Bullseye the Horse—miss their owner. After a series of mishaps, Andy’s beloved toys and Barbie (Jodi Benson)end up in Sunnyside Daycare. The gang meets the leader of the daycare toys, Lot-So-Love Bear (Ned Beatty), and Ken (Michael Keaton), who is immediately attracted to Barbie. After spending one day in the daycare, the toys learn it isn’t all it is cracked up to be and try to find their way back to Andy.

The movie has two great storylines going and reminds viewers why Pixar is revitalizing the movie experience. The first storyline was of course growing up and moving on. Andy is doing both and thereby forces his toys to do the latter. In many cases, the original audience of “Toy Story” is Andy’s age, my sister included. She and I have moved on from our toys of old, like many of adults have done. But like Andy and Woody, there is still that one toy that you hold on to and need to keep you going. In essence, the buddy story has become the coming-of-age story featuring toys.

The other storyline is the prison break plot featuring the daycare center. Frankly, upon reviewing the past three movies, each featured this plotline. But this one was by far the best. It reinforced to the toys that they need each other and are better together. And do it with one of their own on the fritz (Buzz in Spanish mode is a delight!) It is also nail-biting and makes you really worry that your favorites may not make it home this time.

The animation is still top-notch, as one would expect from Pixar. The script from John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich is fast-paced, properly sentimental and throws some great gems to the audience. There are also connections to the first movies for viewers to keep their eyes open for (Example: Pay close attention to the garbage-man) and serves as a great ending for a great series.

Or, knowing Disney, is could even serve as a great new beginning. You make the choice.

Out of five Mickeys, I rate this movie:

Walt would be proud!

Culture, Cubans and Cuisine

For Sam’s next great weekend, we travel north of the border to our friendly neighbors!

Bienvenue a Montreal!

Friday afternoon: Sam goes to Paul Patates for Quebecois food. She gets frites avec frommage. And that’s all topped with gravy and washed down with Spruce Beer. Is that like root beer? The patrons tease Sam for how slow she is eating but she is the one who gets a backstage tour to see how the store makes Spruce Beer. Apparently, the recipe goes back to Benjamin Franklin (legend has it) and Sam tries to find the secret. They don’t give it to her, but they do let her help bottle the drink.

To work off all those calories, Sam goes ice skating. She wears socks adorned with the maple leafs. She gets some help with her skates before hitting the rink for some disco ice skating. There are people skating in short sleeves. Seriously? Sam manages to do a twirl and not fall down!

Friday night: Apparently, Montreal is the bachelorette party capital of Canada. I guess they need something if they can’t fly to Vegas, right? Anyway, Sam decides to avoid all the about-to-be-weds and go to the Casa d’Havana, a store full of Cuban cigars. And she’s going to smoke one. Bad, Sam! Well, that’s one store I’ll never go to. I don’t smoke and you can’t bring those back over the border. The owner lights cigars with a blow torch. He advises her not to inhale.

Coming up: CRICKET!

Saturday morning: Sam finds a game of Cricket, a cousin of baseball. It is also highly mesmerizing. It almost made my professor and several of us miss the Tower of London. Sam gets an explanation of the game and I didn’t understand a thing. Neither did Sam, though, so I don’t mind. Sam at bat. Swing and a miss. She tries again. Swing and a miss. Swing and a miss. She hits the next ball, runs, but she’s out. But they applaud her anyway.

Saturday afternoon: From the sports field, Sam hits Montreal’s fashion district. She meets Caroline and Jeffrey, who tell her about Montreal fashion sense. She tries on the “bag dress.” It looks pretty good. I like the pant ensemble Sam tries on next. She makes them repeat their compliment in French before turning the Montreal streets into her person runway.

Next: FOOD!

Saturday night: Sam goes to Joe Beef, named after a Montreal tavern man. He would send people out to gather the drunks and give them a place to sleep it off. Sam says that Joe used to let people work for meals. They let her in the back to shuck oysters. She gets some tips from one of the workers at Joe Beef’s before trying it herself. He tells her she going too small and earning a small steak. Sam blames the oyster; he doesn’t believe her. After she fails, they still let her eat. Sam says she didn’t have to work hard for her meal. The owner says it doesn’t hurt to show up with a camera crew.

Sam then is drawn to the bars. Surprise, surprise. She goes to Hurley’s for some Irish music. As she enjoys a pint, Sam makes friends with some locals. Sam gets pulled on stage, courtesy of her producer. She tries her hand at the drum and is pretty good at it. A round of applause greets her.

Coming up: Dance lessons!

Sunday afternoon: Sam decides to get Burlesque lessons. She learns how to walk properly before getting a boa. Sam finishes off her lesson with a giant feather fan.

Sunday night: Sam goes to the Chinese Botanical Garden to enjoy the annual Magic of Lanterns festival. It is beautiful, celebrating Chinese acrobats.

Montreal looks beautiful. When I went to the Canadian province of Quebec, I went to Quebec City. It is a beautiful city with great history and a mixture of France and Canada, old and new. But Montreal looks like a great place to visit as well.

Quote of the Episode:

“We have two seasons: winter and July.” –Montreal native about the weather. Don’t let them fool you. I went to Quebec twice in May. The weather was beautiful—sweater weather.

 

Orlando: More than Theme Parks!

I have been to Orlando many, many times. Of course, it’s only been to Disney. And then to Church (Vacation is no excuse to miss Mass!). But there’s more to Orlando than Sea World, Universal, Harry Potter and, of course, Disney World. And this episode, Sam is going to discover it!

Friday evening: Sam starts at her hotel, the Grand Bohemian, before going to Winter Park. It takes it’s name because wealthy northerners built their winter homes down there. Sam says it has many bars on the path and heads straight for one—the Wine Room. That’s our Sam! It’s a wine shop and a bar, with a wine tasting selection. Sam gets a prepaid card to try out her wines, which is dispensed in a high tech dispenser that looks more like it should be in Walt Disney World. Sam makes nice with some people in the store, getting free wine from them. They offer her food and she says she’s good…unless she’s passed out on the floor. Sam discovers more friendly people and ribs the men drinking beer. Sam continues to drinking until her card runs out.

Saturday morning: Downtown Orlando is an artist’s haven and Sam goes down to visit Charlie, a glass-blower. He offers lessons in the art and Sam takes one. Charlie has clearly watched the show before because he offers to teach her to make a pint glass. Sam says one common mistake people make is to touch the glass once it comes out of the oven—it’s glowing red, it’s that hot! Sam worries about touching the glass with a wet newspaper, which Charlie calls an old Italian tradition. Charlie says that the city has changed in the past ten years from just bars to “bars and other stuff.” As the continue to make the pint glass and Charlie offers to buy after they are done. I know Sam’s not going to pass that up! The finished product goes in a kiln and Sam takes up Charlie on his offer—once the glass has cooled down.

Coming up: Sam finds home.

Saturday afternoon: Sam heads out to the Winter Park Saturday Farmer’s Market. She hits the free samples, knowing to never turn down free food. She also talks to some of the locals. She also knows the secret to getting more—praise the vendors! She samples all over the place! As she hits landscaping, she goes back for another lap.

After that, Sam hits a shoe boutique, which Sam calls her “home.” Sam goes on a shoe shopping spree. Sam says she used to just have three pairs. I’m not a shoe-aholic, but I even have more than that! And my dad is still boggled. The owner says the residents love the theme parks but they also love having a small, quiet town. Sam makes her selections and leaves the store.

Coming up: Sam finds the heart and soul of Orlando.

Saturday evening: Sam heads back to the bars, with Charlie. He brings her to NV. By day, it’s a photography studio run by Stephanie. By night, it’s a popular bar. Sam says she had no idea there were people who lived in Orlando. The locals say they get that a lot. Sam gets to drink out of the glass she made with Charlie that morning.

Sunday morning: Sam hits Johnson’s for breakfast. It’s a soul food diner and a Orlando institution, according to Sam. The regulars and the staff welcome Sam to the diner. She meets Clarence Taylor, the third generation to own the diner. He says everyone comes there and you can find both Bentleys and shopping carts in their parking lot. Clarence says he can’t change the menu and if dishes don’t taste like how his mother made it, customers will tell him. Sam enjoys her meal and thanks Clarence.

Coming up: Sam gets a thrill.

Wow. It looks like Era hasn’t filmed a new commercial since the late 80s, early 90s the latest.

Sunday afternoon: Sam is all digested and heads to get a thrill, but not in the theme parks. She suits up, puts on a helmet and heads to a wind tunnel for indoor skydiving. Now that’s my idea of skydiving—no planes and jumping from heights involved. And there’s a mesh net, not hard ground, below!

And thus ends Sam’s trip to the “hidden” Orlando. Will I stray outside the walls of Disney World when I go in January? Considering I’ve never been to Universal, probably not. It’ll once again be Disney and Church. But maybe one day.

Exchange of the Episode:

“You know you’re at a wine bar.”

“But there’s still beer.” –Sam and a guy who was probably dragged to the Wine Room by his girlfriend/wife.

TV Updates

It may only be July, but news of the upcoming 2010-2011 television season is still coming out!

On the “Glee” front…I’ll eventually get to the remaining recaps. Before the season premiere, I promise. And speaking of the season premiere, FOX has officially set Glee’s return to be September 21st! Also, Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem has been signed on to guest star in an episode, promising a plot that revolves around Artie. Hopefully, Bardem is the first of many awesome guest-stars this season on “Glee” (including, perhaps, the return of one Neil Patrick Harris?).

Also, I hope they do another episode focused on just one artist/group’s music. I myself am rooting for an all-Beatles episode, maybe with an appearance by either a Sir Paul McCartney or a Ringo Starr? Who would you like to see in Glee? Vote now in my poll!

On the “CSI: NY” front…There’s been a casting shake-up! Melina Kanakaredes AKA Detective Stella Bonasera announced that she would not be returning for the show’s next season. Actress Sela Ward (Once and Again, House) will take her place. I hope they give a good reason for Stella to have left suddenly. Here’s to giving Ward a chance—I firmly didn’t think I’d like Lindsay because I liked Aiden, but now she’s my favorite character. So, we’ll see.

On the “CSI: Original Flavor” front…Most of the cast members have signed new contracts, but Liz Vassey (tech Wendy) has been released from hers. I am going to believe that Wendy decided to take a job elsewhere so she and Hodges could live geekily ever after.

Staten Island: Come and Visit!

Since Sam Brown took us on a tour of her home borough in my last post, I’ve decided to take you around my home borough this one.

So, hop off the Staten Island Ferry and actually dare to wander out of the St. George Terminal for a Weekend in Staten Island!

Friday evening: Here in the summer, the best way to spend your Friday night is at the ballgame! Right next to the ferry terminal is the Richmond County Savings Bank Ball Park, home of the Staten Island Yankees. The Baby Bombers are the minor league team of the New York Yankees and uphold their major league counterpart’s championship tradition. There are no bad seats in the stadium and allows for a great view of the New York skyline and New York Harbor. For less than $20, you can go see a great ballgame. And, win or lose, Friday nights usually end with a fireworks display.

Note: Public transportation on Staten Island is not as good as the other boroughs and we recently suffered cutbacks. Where I live, we only have about two buses that run out here. It’s advised that if you don’t have your own car, you rent one.

Saturday morning: Staten Island is just that—an island. Go enjoy the morning down by the beach—South Beach! Enjoy the view of the Narrows and the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Verrazano Bridge. There are several diners scattered throughout Staten Island, most of them owned by Mike. They are opened 24/7 and just as good for breakfast or lunch as for a late night snack.

Late Saturday morning/Saturday afternoon: Around Staten Island are several cultural and historical things waiting for you to discover. There is the grounds at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. There the botanical gardens, museums and performances to be found in this center. If you are traveling with children, there is also a Children’s Museum on premises that always provided my friends and I with days of fun. There is the Alice Austen house. Austen was a photographer at the turn of the century who captured New York City as it grew into a modern metropolis. Her house on Staten Island is preserved and houses many of her pictures.

A recommendation for lunch is DeNino’s Tavern for some pizza. Sure Brooklyn has all the well-known pizzerias. But you know what happens to Brooklynites? They move to Staten Island and open more pizzerias! DeNino’s is well known throughout the Island, especially for how thin their pizzas are. I had a slice from there and it was delicious!

Moving down the cultural highlights of Staten Island, there is also Historic Richmondtown. This was the location of the original settlements on Staten Island and now is a collection of houses between 100 to 300 years old. Most were moved from their original locations to the town. Tours are available as well as the ability to just wander through town. While driving along Arthur Kill Road, be sure to stop in to Holtermann’s. Their baked goods are sold in many stores, but the main bakery is here on Staten Island. I get my birthday cake from there every year and my family loves to pick up their cupcakes. Pick up a delicious snack as you continue down the Island.

The last stop in the tour of Staten Island’s history is the Conference House Park, a personal decision of mine since I volunteer there. The house is the oldest stone manor house in New York City and the site of the oft-forgotten Staten Island Peace Conference held on September 11, 1776. The house is open for tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 1 and 4 PM. The Conference House itself isn’t the only reason to visit the park. There are several other historic houses on property—not yet open to the public, but we have no problems with people peeking in the windows! There is also a gazebo that looks out over the Raritan Bay and on a clear summer day, it is a beautiful sight. You can also walk along the beach and kick around in the surf. You may also find the South Pole, marking the southern most point in the State of New York.

Saturday night: Time for dinner, right? After all that, you’re probably starving. My suggestion for a good meal is to eat at the Marina Cafe in Great Kills. It sits on the water and my mother has eaten there with colleagues many times. You can sit outside (if the weather permits) or inside and enjoy a great meal for reasonable prices. Try to hold off from ordering dessert because I am sending you to a Staten Island institution—Egger’s Ice Cream Parlor (namely the one on Hylan Blvd by Tysen’s Lane). I went there after I graduated from high school to celebrate, even if chocolate ice cream and a white dress wasn’t such a good combination. At some point, Staten Islanders have flocked to the store for some delicious ice cream and is a highlight.

Sunday morning: Staten Island is about 85% Catholic, but I don’t know the percentage of those that are practicing. Either way, areas around churches will be slightly crowded with Sunday church-goers. It might be best to have breakfast in your hotel before venturing out for the day.

For the rest of Sunday, I advise you discover why they call us “the Borough of Parks.” There’s Wolfe’s Pond Park in Prince’s Bay. Lemon Creek Park or Blue Heron Park. There’s Gateway in Great Kills. But I would suggest Clove Lakes Park. My high school track team had practice there during the cross-country season and ran two cross-country races there every year (The Wagner Invitational and Championships). There are several paths to walk, pass the Clove Lakes and Martling Pond. You can find the trails we use for cross-country and walk deeper into the woods, though be careful by Royal Oak as those are often used as soccer fields.

Also located in Clove Lakes Park is the Staten Island Zoo. While it might not be as famous or as grand as the Bronx Zoo or the Central Park Zoo, it still can delight all ages. When I was younger, they used to let the peacocks roam free. I am not sure if they still allow it, but it is pretty awesome. Another attraction at the Staten Island Zoo besides the petting zoo is Charles G. Hogg, better known as “Staten Island Chuck.” Every Groundhog’s Day, he comes out of his little home to predict whether we’ll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. While his predictions have been off the past few years, he still has a better track record than a more famous groundhog who shall remain nameless.

As the sun sets once again on our island, I hope you enjoyed your little tour of what Staten Island has to offer. Come by and see us!