Secrets of the City

Yangtze carry out + a grip of 80’s teen movies:

16 Candles
Better Off Dead
Weird Science
Breakfast Club
Can’t Buy Me Love (who’s this Dr. Hottie my wife keeps talking about?)
Heathers
Risky Biznass

I second Heathers, although I’m not sure it qualifies as a teen movie, since it’s actually good. Same for Risky, although I could definitely do without Cruise in the underwear scene. I’d throw in Real Genius, too.

This Gentile expects a hefty dose of Elf and some horrendously punchless classics (nothing too edgy like Peanuts) if he doesn’t get to the in-laws’ soon and hook up a Wii.

And Heathers is a great film.

Last year we went to Peninsula. Basically, since we live only a block from Eat Street – we walk along and find which ever might be open.

As for movies, I am not super excited to see anything that is in the theater right now. Anyone have some suggestions?

I love the movie Elf – wish I had gotten the DVD…I would put it on right now.

Kenneth Turan savaged “Benjamin Button” on Morning Edition, and I won’t be seeing “Valkyrie”, so the pickings are slim today.

I’m watching the Firefly series, writing tomorrow’s Secrets, and balancing a big dog on my lap. I will probably be doing this most of the day between eating cubed cheeses and drinking Preseco. However, if you are looking for restaurants open and some crap to do tonight, check out today’s Secrets!

As a member of the “other” tribe, my Christmas is booked.

However, I will spend tomorrow eating lunch at Hong Kong Noodles in Stadium Village and watching “Goldfinger” at home, with Mr. B, the wunderhund. Sadly, Mrs. Lungs must work on Friday.

Being a vegetarian & having little kids complicates it. We used to get take-out from our favourite vegetarian Chinese restaurant, but it’s closed now. So this year I’m making bean burritos & chocolate cupcakes, and then we’re going to watch Oliver. I haven’t seen it since I was a kid, so it might be great or interminable! I also got 101 Dalmations, which is terrific. The animation is beautiful and who can resist the downfall of Cruella De Vil. I always thought it was “de ville” (speaking French) and laughed at my mistake when I saw the video cover.

The Rat is finding a little nourishment in ancient rhymes:

Like the story of Good King Wenceslas, the Czech Patron Saint,

“Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing,”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41rmb_dhqmM

1st Wok and ‘Annie Hall’

We had dinner at Shuang Cheng. YUM. Sesame tofu and mu shu. I am quite full now. We usually go to a movie on Christmas, but we decided to stay home with the doggie and watch a movie here. I still have 1/2 a bottle of prosecco to polish off too. I love Christmas!

Roast beef, lots of Muenster beer and red wine. Oh, and the gravy was made by a German ex-con, who was released from prison 3 weeks ago. He is clearly still be quite the junkie, but the gravy was excellent. No movies at all, but listening to Split Lip Rayfield, and earlier had on Earth, Wind and Fire, and also Queen. On vinyl.

“He is clearly still be…” ???

Dinner last night at PF Chang’s with the family. Disney dining, I know but great beef ribs. Then Frost/Nixon. Frank Langella sweats sublime for an Oscar, no doubt.

Benjamin Buttons this evening…my eyes were wet for three hours. Amazing.

I suffered through the first hour of The Spirit before leaving for dinner. I had the shrimp with ginger and scallions at Ka Mei here in Pittsburgh.

The Spirit sucks btw.

I heated up some home turkey meatballs with some BBQ sauce and had a few beers and watched some terrible TV while doing some crossword puzzles. Now I’m reading some 2666 and drinking a very nice Viognier from France and thinking about cutting up some nice 3 Sisters Cheese that I bought on the internet a while ago. I think I’m going to skip work tomorrow. Nothing is going to happen and I have no inclination to go in.

This video from SNL is a perfect match for this thread and is perfect in each and every way.

Finshed off the long Christmas weekend by seeing “Benjamin Button” yesterday. It was pretty good.

Anyone looking for Chinese food and a movie and New Year’s Eve? The Dragon House, just across the street from the Heights theater, is doing a NYE special dinner that day.