Film: “Because I Said So”

Despite reading several overly negative reviews, I was dying to watch Because I Said So. It seems the combined star power of Diane Keaton and Lauren Graham, coupled with my need to watch a saccharine romantic comedy, were too much to overcome.

About an overbearing, controlling mother (Keaton) trying to set up her youngest daughter Milly (played by Mandy Moore) with a “life partner,” the movie wasn’t as bad as I had expected. I didn’t mind the cake gags as much as critics seemed to. Also, the women had an intriguing family dynamic, though were suffocating-ly close to one another. Lastly, there were some good lines (e.g. regarding why Keaton’s Daphne never had an orgasm, “Your father said he didn’t have all day, and he worked nights”). Still, the movie had its obvious weaknesses.

Even worse than last weekend’s Sexy Laundry, I wanted Daphne to just SHUT. UP. So shrill and annoying was her character that I wondered if her bout with laryngitis mid-way through was an eleventh-hour script change (but that would be giving the writers a little too much credit). In addition, the lack of character development was jarring. The only details provided were those that helped the romantic arc along (what happened to Lauren Graham’s baby? Did Piper Perabo’s character have a job?). There was, for example, incredible irony in Daphne’s statement that labeled jazz musicians as heartbreakers, as later on in the movie, the audience is led to believe that Daphne’s sudden love is true on the merit that her new beau is a good grandfather. There was also the usual overt visual symbolism to differentiate between Mr. Right and Mr. Wrong. In this case, it involved Milly’s wavy versus stick-straight hair.

On two shallow notes – Mr. Right, played by Gabriel Macht, was very well cast, and had the perfect amount of earnestness needed for the role. Secondly, I loved Keaton’s entire wardrobe – full skirts, wide belts, and the eclectic-but-put-together outfits suited her beautifully (and I now have a strong affinity for polka dots).

While I wouldn’t highly recommend the movie, it is the only cinematic romance available this Valentine’s Day.

New York Style: Caffè Sorrentino

After lunch, May, Janice and I looked to unwind in a coffee shop, and stumbled upon Caffè Sorrentino (10665-109 Street).

Recently opened by Sorrentino’s, purveyors of fine Italian Dining in Alberta, the coffee shop exuded a New York flavor. The black, white and red color scheme was offset by clear light fixtures and stainless steel tables, creating a chic and sophisticated feel. A flat screen television was installed near the coffee bar, where many patrons were situated, fixating on the broadcasted Oilers game. Their menu is very similar to that of Zenari’s in Manulife Place – in addition to the typical coffee break fare, they also offer soups, paninis and pastas. But bonus – they also carry Fantasia Gelato, the must-have treat at Heritage Days. And for those who need an easy-to-make dinner, Caffè Sorrentino stocks convenient, take-home versions of their popular pastas and sauces (I myself wouldn’t mind trying their wild mushroom ravioli).

While I didn’t have the appetite to have anything besides a cookie and a cup of Tazo tea this time, I will be back to sample their Italian plates soon.

Counter

Cafe interior

Table with a view

Unusual napkin holder and mug

Western Sensibilities: Thanh Thanh Oriental Noodle House

After the ceremony, Janice and I accompanied May and her family for lunch. We decided on Thanh Thanh (10718-101 Street), a newly renovated Vietnamese restaurant at Janice’s suggestion.

Just outside of Chinatown, Thanh Thanh offers free parking, always a plus for eateries in the downtown core. The decor is impressively chic – tile floors, brown suede banquets, simple black tables, mirrors to create the illusion of space, and a clean tank filled with blood parrots. While this was my first time at the restaurant, I’m certain the changes have much improved the dining space.

I was surprised at how busy the place was, at noon on a random Saturday. By the time we left over an hour later, there was actually a wait for tables. We ordered a few dishes to share, including hot and sour soup, cashew chicken, beef, chicken and vegetable chow fun, and a sizzling beef and mushroom plate.

The food arrived in no time. Hot, fresh, and of reasonable quality, I was very happy with my experience. I’ll be certain to try their pho in the future.

With large portions and fast service, I can see why Thanh Thanh has become a lunch and dinner destination for those in the know.

Blood Parrots!

Restaurant interior

Hot & Sour Soup

Cashew Chicken

CA Graduation 2007

I had the privilege of attending May’s CA induction ceremony Saturday morning at the Winspear Centre.

It was quite the well-oiled machine – organized, seamless, and had the perfect balance of achievement recognition, caveat of professional responsibility, and personal anecdotes. Each of the completed UFE writers were formally presented by a CA mentor, who had the opportunity to humanize the graduate beyond the name on the page. Looking at the big picture, and working with the many occupational groups that I do, I sometimes forget that professions are made up of distinct individuals. The ceremony reminded me of that. From unrelated tales of unusual cell phone ring tones to embarrassing and borderline inappropriate stories of wild partying, Monday morning hangovers, and penchants for senior citizens – it was a nice touch for each graduate to have an extended moment in the spotlight (and for the record, May got off pretty easy :).

Other things I learned today:

  • Seemingly 90% of CAs work for Price Waterhouse Coopers, who often get sent to the Northwest Territories for audits.
  • Intra-profession incest extends beyond the hallowed walls of Education: many of the grads were introduced by family members who also happened to be CAs.
  • The U of A School of Business has a charmingly hilarious professor in Dr. Sandy Hilton. He opened with a rather clichéd speech, but quickly redeemed himself throughout the ceremony (his presentation of the “most eligible bachelor” was priceless).
  • The ceremony is probably the most fertile recruiting ground for desperate firms – not only were accomplishments and personality traits on display, but it wouldn’t be difficult to track down a desired grad.

It was an interesting experience. Thanks May for inviting me, and congrats again! We will all be approaching you for our tax-related needs!

Culinary Q & A with Violet

Occupation: Assistant Coordinator and Instructor, but secretly wishing I was a Madonna impersonator

What did you eat today?

Breakfast: Toast with peanut butter and a banana
Lunch: Buffet at Khazana with fresh fruit for dessert
Dinner: Rice, eggplant, fish and tofu
Snack: Couple of Pringles

What do you never eat?

Chicken feet

What is your personal specialty?

Chinese style spaghetti as my mum used to make

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Cleaver, I use it to cut just about everything and Tupperware peeler that has lasted forever

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

Tofu with broccoli and chicken, anything with seafood, and sushi

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Usually somewhere serving Asian food

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

Vietnamese- La Pagode (cheap and good portion size) and Doans (good portion sizes but slow service)
Japanese- Banzai (always have coupons) and Ichiban (bento boxes are always reliable)
Malaysian- Tropika (look for coupons, mango dessert is yummy)
Chinese- Sai Woo Garden (good calamari and cheap but don’t show me the kitchen)
Greek- It’s All Greek to Me (love the potatoes)
Indian- Khazana (can’t go wrong with the buffet)
Everything else- Moxies west end (go for Margarita Tuesdays and a white chocolate brownie in this newly renovated hot spot)
Madison’s Grill (good place for business lunches)

The Entertainment book has lots of 2 for 1 coupons for some great places. I’m a frugal diner 🙂

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

The best seafood I’ve ever had was while cruising (and Vegas) so I’d love to be on deck watching waves in the middle of the ocean enjoying scallops, shrimp,clams, and mussels with pasta and a fresh fruit tart dessert.

Musings on Second Cup

I took advantage of a promotion at Second Cup today, where by ordering one of their new drinks, customers are given a free magazine. I chose the vaguely appealing Dark Chocolate Raspberry Latte, and received a complementary issue of Elle.

The drink, while both rich and saccharine (bitter lattes are not for me), had the tang of fruit that I don’t think mixes well with coffee (I hold the same opinion for chocolate – the best thing, for example, about Terry’s Chocolate Orange is smashing it).

I read an article recently about Second Cup’s upward swing in Canada’s coffee market. While still ranked third behind Starbucks and Tim Horton’s, their goal is to encourage repeat customers by offering excellent service: “It’s taken for granted that the drinks are going to be great – but when you’re treated so well, that’s something people keep coming back for,” says Karen Gold, their Marketing Director.

Gold’s comment is true to some extent – my morning coffee has become such a ritual in my workday that nearly all of the rotating Empire Building Starbucks baristas know my regular even before I open my mouth. It’s such a small thing – earned only over time, consistency, and a lot of money – but their immediate recognition does make me feel “special.”

The Second Cup I visited today is one of the nicest (and newest) in the city. Located in the upscale Manulife Place (10180-101 Street), it’s filled with plush chairs, polished dark wood tables, a fireplace, and stylish drop lighting. The downside of this particular store is its hours of operation – closed on weekends, and after 5:30 on weekdays, it prevents any extensive post-work gab or unwinding sessions. All Second Cups, however, really need to rethink their coffee bar design – is a ledge the size of an arm really functional, or large enough during the rushes? It seems this fundamental fixture should be paid more attention to than say, an additional couch or new product.

While I’ll be faithful to Starbucks until the end, it’s always nice to have competition and choice within the market.

Manulife Place Second Cup

“The O.C.”: Down to the Wire

I watched the fourth-to-last episode of The O.C. today, and though I’ve already lamented over its cancellation, there is much to be said about the writers’ insistence not to go softly into the good night.

As tonight’s episode aptly demonstrated, Schwartz & Co. fully intend on stretching their creative rein as far as possible. In a series of cheesy-bordering-on-campy flashbacks, the audience is shown a young Summer and Seth, as well as how Kirsten and Sandy met all those years ago at Berkeley (spawning the aww-worthy phrase, “You’ve found your Sandy Cohen”). I love how Julie and Frank’s relationship has developed gradually, which is quite unusual for the soapy drama. Lastly, Willa Holland has been the season’s true surprise, playing ‘Mini Coop’ with a sass and grace Mischa Barton could only dream of. Her scenes of fatherly bonding with Bullit are pure gold, carefully mined for comic tenderness.

If you missed it, CTV Broadband should have the episode up by Friday. Three to go!

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”

A few weeks ago, the title of the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series was released. Today, the book is now available for pre-orders, to arrive on July 21, 2007.

At least it should be warm out for all those tykes lining up at midnight!

“My dignity as a woman”

Have any of you been following the Berlusconi saga? It’s a great illustration of the power of a woman’s voice, and the inherent respect self-dignity demands.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been forced to publicly apologize to his wife after two suggestive remarks about other women. He was quoted as saying, “I’d go with you anywhere,” to a dancer, and on a separate occasion about a parliamentary colleague, “Take a look at her! I’d marry her if I weren’t married already.”

To counter this humiliation, his wife, Vernoica Lavio, approached a national newspaper to print a letter, excerpted below:

“I have faced the inevitable contrasts and the more painful moments that a long conjugal relationship entails with respect and discretion. Now I write to state my reaction.

“This line of conduct has a sole limit, my dignity as a woman. Today for my female children, already adults, the example of a woman capable of defending her own dignity in her relationships with men takes on a particularly significant importance. . . . [For my son, it will serve as a lesson] to never forget to keep among his fundamental values respect for women. . . .

“I ask if, like the Catherine Dunne character, I have to regard myself as ‘half of nothing?’ . . . To my husband and to the public man I therefore ask for a public apology, having not received one privately. . . .Cordially, Veronica Berlusconi”

I’m not sure if I would feel comfortable airing out such dirty laundry in public, but I applaud and respect her decision to do so. Silvio’s response, on the other hand, reads somewhat trite, and seems much too light-hearted in tone to be genuine:

“Here I am, saying I’m sorry. I was recalcitrant in private, because I am playful but proud too. Challenged in public, the temptation to give in to you is strong. I can’t resist. . . .

“You know that my days are crazy: Work, politics, problems, moving around constantly and always being under public scrutiny . . . all of this opens up the possibility of a bit of irresponsibility that can be playful, ironic toward myself, and often irreverent. But your dignity has nothing to do with this — I cherish it as something precious in my heart even when my mouth emits the thoughtless quip, the gallant remark, the trifling comment of the moment.

“But, believe me, I have never made a marriage proposal to anyone. So, I beg you, forgive me and accept this public display of a private pride that gives in to your rage as an act of love — just one of many. A big kiss. Silvio”

The natural comparison for this situation is Hilary Clinton’s own decision to stand by her philandering husband after much more than oral comments. I can’t think that HRC would have even considered such a move (and if not only to allow for her own future political ambitions). I can only imagine the backlash she would have received from traditionalist and conservative women’s and family groups who would have criticized her for such a public demand. Moreover, though my knowledge of the female Italian mindset is slim, the tone of the article seems to suggest a pre-existing bias against Berlusconi. Perhaps Bill’s charisma and charm would have encouraged the retention of some female supporters?

In any case, I will be following this story now!

Poverty in Malawi

I ventured out late this afternoon for another International Week session titled, “Gender, Education and the HIV/AID Pandemic in Rural Malawi.” Presenting were Dr. Anne Fanning, a retired physician, and Rachel Maser, who just recently returned from a ten-month volunteer stint in Malawi with Engineers Without Borders.

Dr. Fanning began the session with a whirlwind twenty minute PowerPoint presentation meant to provide a framework and overview of the factors involved in poverty, including the necessity of infrastructure, good governance and access to education. While the content was there, I wish there had been more time for depth – her spiel can best be likened to a Blender Blaster of statistics, charts, graphs, maps and fact lists. I think she may have made some assumptions that the audience was more familiar with the material than we actually were (or, it may have just been me), and breezed through it without a pause. It’s evident she’s extremely knowledgeable (she is one of the leading experts on TB), so I can only hope to be able to hear her speak again on a future occasion (an exasperating fact – though condom use is not as prevalent in Africa as it should be, Dr. Fanning noted a statistic that an able-bodied, sexually-active man in Africa only has access to an average of fourteen condoms a year).

Rachel also referred to PowerPoint slides, and on them included many pictures she took while in Malawi. Working through EWB, but with an organization called ActionAid, her objective focused on girls’ education. One of her projects while there involved organizing a day where young girls were able to listen to positive role models working in professional jobs, and then job shadow some of those women on the following day. She came away with the sense that more had to be done to change the perception that the domain of the female was in the home. One interesting point – Malawi, at least in the southern part of the country where she was stationed, is quite well connected by cell phone. She talked about how the technology was revolutionizing the way people did business. For instance, a farmer could receive a text message with the current market price for grain, and then decide whether or not a trip to town would be worth it.

In all, it was great to be able to hear perspectives of those who have worked and lived in the field.