I’m leaving for New York tomorrow! It’s funny – I think I overdid the research and planning portion of this trip much too early; it’s been at least two weeks since I have really touched the set of travel guides on my desk.
At any rate, we’ll see what happens when we get there. I haven’t yet decided if I am going to blog while I’m there (I prefer to use paper/pencil while traveling), but you can be sure Mack will be posting. Check his blog and Flickr page for updates.
Enjoy your week!
Occupation: Director- Financial aid office
What did you eat today?
Breakfast- yogurt, banana. Mandarin & a hot rod!
Lunch- pita & nummus
Dinner- Spanish tortilla (egg Potatos, green onions & cheese) w/ caramelized onions&red pepper
What do you never eat?
Oatmeal or cereal & milk
What is your personal specialty?
Soups & baked goods
What is your favorite kitchen item?
Sharp Knives. Close second, measuring cups
World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.
french onion soup Japanese food- sushi sashimi etc Miscellaneous snack stuff like drips. Pickles, olives & cheeses Haha all over the place
Where do you eat out most frequently?
A japanese restaurant in the west end- Ichiban
What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?
So hard to choose one! I love lchiban for the price to quality ratio but one of the places really like is Uppercrust ooh & Flavours on Whyte Ave. Sorry that was a non- answer!
As per tradition, my colleagues and I gathered at the Sutton Place Hotel downtown for our annual Christmas party.
I remember having fond memories of last year’s luncheon, but that was likely because I didn’t have a hand in it and was allowed to simply enjoy the experience. This year, I volunteered to be on the planning committee, as I thought it would provide me with an opportunity to take a break from day-to-day work life. As it turned out, due to many seemingly last-minute adjustments, the party planning took on a life of its own.
The majority of my stress was associated with the holiday game my workmate Meghan and I were in charge of creating. A hybrid of Jeopardy and Cranium (Jeonium?), we did our best to escape the points model by awarding pieces of a puzzle instead. Thus, “Operation Rudolph” was born, with two groups of winners chosen – the team who could first obtain all twenty pieces, and the team who could most quickly put the puzzle together. While the competition was fierce, it seemed everyone ultimately enjoyed themselves, and our efforts were appreciated.
As for the buffet – the price per head increased to $28.50, but it was still well worth it. The roast beef in particular was very good this year, as was the salmon drenched in saffron butter sauce.
While I am relieved that the party (and the planning) is over, I am sure that in hindsight, I will appreciate the experience as a whole.
My first and only plate
Cooking for potlucks to be held at work always pose a bit of a challenge. Without access to an oven, and the added fun of transporting a dish across town on public transportation, I’ve found that a well thought out choice necessary. Up this time: Barbecue Duck Salad Rolls.
Things I learned:
I grossly underestimated the amount of time it would take me to assemble the rolls. If my Mum hadn’t helped me prepare the vegetables and vermicelli beforehand, I would have ended up listening to The Bounce‘s high rotation list a third time.
I kept a wet paper towel over the rolls overnight, and to my surprise, they didn’t crack much by lunch time this afternoon. Most of my coworkers liked the dish (I was down to one by the end!), with one even commenting about the very “refreshing” citrus burst of flavor as provided by the lime juice. I myself liked the inclusion of fresh cilantro – this would be a great appetizer for a summer patio party.
After reading numerous interviews with the stars of BitchSlap!, I was more excited than ever to see the show. So on Saturday night, Dickson and I joined a near full house at the Roxy Theatre for a remount of the 2005 Fringe hit. From the website:
“Joan Crawford (The Movie Star) and Bette Davis (The Actress): the ultimate Screen Goddesses. Too bad they hated each other so much! In this real-life showbiz feud, Crawford and Davis battle royally (like Queens) over roles, top billing, Oscars and MEN.”
Reading the brief history of the women as told in the program before the show began really helped anchor the story for me, but I’m certain I would have understood even more of the references if I was actually familiar with the actresses and their work (I kept wondering whether Davis actually spoke with such punctuated silences, or if Crawford was so appreciative of her fans). Still, a lack of prior background knowledge didn’t infringe on a general enjoyment of the play, as there were enough puns and zingers (Trevor Schmidt, as Davis, got to deliver most of them, “[Crawford]’s slept with every man at MGM except Lassie” or “You can lead a whore to culture but cannot teach them to think”) among other comedic funniness to keep me entertained.
The acting was first rate – there was an undeniable chemistry between Schmidt and Darrin Hagen (as Crawford), but more than that, the two actors seemed to be having the time of their lives sparring and one-upping the other. Their scenes together were undoubtedly the most enjoyable. Even though the Whatever Happened to Baby Jane filming sequences felt a bit long, they provided some of the best moments of the play – Crawford’s deliberate hunch while wheelchair bound, and Davis’s building fury in a climactic confrontation between their screen characters.
The closing dialogue tracing the death of both stars’ careers (appropriately delivered by the reporter, Hedda Hopper, played by the always reliable Davina Stewart) was ultimately melancholic in tone, but necessary. No matter how popular or respected they were, in the end, it didn’t matter – as female entertainers, they were treated as disposable commodities – easily replaced once past their prime by the next new up and comer.
Despite the good acting, the laughs, and the story of a feud between two legends of the silver screen, there was something missing from BitchSlap! I have no doubt why it was a hit during the Fringe, but as a full-length, theatre season play, I was expecting more.
Before the third season of The Hills began, it seemed that this would indeed be the final season. Lauren’s clothing line launched a few months ago, and she vehemently claimed that her reality series was merely a stepping stone to her fashion career.
But as the finale approached, no one ever referred to the episode as a “series” finale. Today, we found out why – In Touch announced that The Hills has been renewed for a fourth season! As for Lauren’s coy quote, “I have some friends [on the show], some friends off,” we’ll have to see if The After Show‘s reported rumors are true – that Whitney will be replaced by Spencer’s sister, Stephanie Pratt as a “character”.
Other news from Hollywood:
As reported in Tuesday’s Edmonton Journal, the annual theatre festival is going without the word “Fringe” in their name. The 2008 theme is “The Big Kahuna”, and will legitimize, at least for two weeks next summer, shopping in one of the many surfing-label clothing shops, which continue to curiously proliferate in this landlocked city (Hollister, Quicksilver, etc.).
In her article, Liz Nicholls hints at Festival Director Julian Mayne’s desire to signify a change. But with last year’s stalwart camps of those against the new ticketing system and those more willing to embrace change, it seems Mayne will be bending a little to tradition, as dependent on financing, “all sales are happening at the door,” with the assistance of computer technology at each venue.
The complete list of production companies selected through the lottery system has yet to be uploaded onto the official Fringe website, but after it is, I will be eagerly combing through it to check if any of my recognizable favorites made the cut.
Only Here for the Food 