Mary Lately: Autumn in New York

I love October. It FINALLY feels like fall (but will I ever see the sun again?). I have been prancing around the city in light to medium jackets for the past few weeks, and sometime soon I may even enjoy an autumn-inspired coffee beverage in a bookshop- how seasonal is that?

In honor of pumpkin ale season, it seems a perfect time to reflect on Mary Lately:

Things I have been enjoying about Fall 2012:

• Butternut Squash Pierogis from Veselka
• Anything butternut squash, honestly
• Apple Picking in Upstate New York (we'll see if that actually materializes)
• PREPSTER PUMPKIN PALOOZA 2k12: 5th Annual! A fierce pumpkin carving competition and autumnal rager all in one spooktacular eve. 
• Topical Halloween costumes: I love when people reference current pop culture, and I look forward to seeing many a Pussy Riot band member, Botched Fresco Jesus, and if I'm really lucky, Honey Boo Boo.
• Scarves
• Lower electricity bills *I hope*
• Sooner Football watch parties at 121 Fulton- ALMOST as good as the real thing ;)
• Beautiful tri-state foliage- the leaves are so pretty! Fun fact: Central Park is landscaped to imitate the Hudson River Valley, so it also has amazing colored foliage. 
• HALLOWEEN PARTIES
• Back to school enthusiasm for pretty much every aspect of life

In the words of @DerekBlasberg's Twitter (yea, I just went there): "It's an end of year marathon... Halloween, Thanksgiving, The End of Days, Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza, Happy New Year 2013!"

Yours in seasonal enthusiasm,

mg

Movie Review Monday

It's beginning to look a lot like Oscar season (aka one of my favorite times of the year)!

 As such, I've seen some legit movies lately and thought I'd share my reviews with you: 

Argo

• Rating on Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
• Brief Synopsis: Based on true events, Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis. On November 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.
• My thoughts:  This is an absolute MUST SEE. (And I'm not just saying that because it's Warner Bros.) Incredibly done from top to bottom. Intensely suspenseful, superbly written/acted, natural comic relief, and overall just a GREAT film. I worked at the premiere a couple weeks ago where Ben Affleck (producer/director/star of the film) did a lovely intro, and I saw the Academy screening of it this weekend where he and the screenwriter Chris Terrio did a Q&A afterwards (which of course made me like the movie even more.) Based on the RAVE reviews (and the Academy members giving it a standing ovation at the screening), I predict MULTIPLE Oscars for this one. See itttt.  
• Do I Want To See It Again: Yes!   

The Master

• Rating on Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
• Brief Synopsis: A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.
• My thoughts: This beautifully shot film that's not officially about Scientology (but is definitely about Scientology) gives a gripping, rare look inside that movement.  It was eye-opening and definitely one that you'll be thinking about days after watching it.  Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman are practically shoo-ins for acting nominations for their excellent performances. 
• Do I Want To See It Again: No (but I have a friend who loves it so much, he's already seen it 3 times). 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

• Rating on Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
• Brief Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. A moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope-and the unforgettable friends that help us through life.
• My thoughts: This was GREAT. I haven't read the book, but the friend I went with has read it and she loved the movie too. Great performances, lovable characters, relatable storylines, wonderful soundtrack. Two thumbs way up. 
• Do I Want To See It Again: Yesss! Who wants to go with me? 

Looper

• Rating on Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
• Brief Synopsis: In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented - but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a "looper" - a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) - is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good... until the day the mob decides to "close the loop," sending back Joe's future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. 
• My thoughts: Very original and interesting- you'll definitely be thinking about afterwards and eager to discuss theories with your friends. I am an extreme wimp when it comes to shooting, blood and pretty much violence of any kind, so I had to cover my eyes for a large portion of the film, but I was fortunately still able to follow the storyline. I also spent half the time wondering why Joseph Gordon-Levitt looked so weird- definitely not his usual super attractive self- but then I realized it's because they had to make his face look like Bruce Willis (who plays the 30 years older version of JGL).
• Do I Want To See It Again: Maybe. I'd still cover my eyes half the time, but it would be interesting to see it again with the new theories I've discussed and thought about since my initial viewing. 

What's the best you've seen lately?  The next movie I really want to see: Pitch Perfect.  Who wants to come with?  Holla. 

xoxo, 

Annie. 

8:11 September Highlights

"It started feeling like October..." 

That's the opening line of one of the best songs ever written by my favorite musician ever- "ANNIE Use Your Telescope." (I might be a bit biased.) That said, I always welcome October with open arms. But first, here are my 11 favorite things that happened at 8:11 PM in September...

8:11- with my wonderful fam and @kaylashakira in pagosa springs, colorado. Love love love.

8:11-enjoying a gorgeous sunset while relaxing in the hot springs. I don't want to leeeeave.

8:11- at the Best Coast concert on the Santa Monica pier!#thingsiloveaboutLA.

8:11-w/ all my Academy darlings ( @elisadaniels, @nikehair,@tenimeli, etc) celebrating Tarrah's bday!

8:11-at a Thai cooking class w/ @mckenziemorris. So much fun! Dinner party at our place in the near future.

8:11- #TheMaster at the Dome w/ @benkall. And w/ that, I feel#Oscar season has officially begun!

8:11-Sound of Music sing-a-long at the #hollywoodbowl w/@mckenziemorris. The hills are alive, guys. (More on this funnn night in the below post!) 

8:11- amazing feast at CG tonight! Potato balls and cheese Danishes from Portos and cupcakes from the Alcove.

8:11-celebrating #LA Beer Week at Mohawk Bend w/@mckenziemorris and @aaarmstrong.

8:11-margs before "the perks of being a wallflower" w/ darling@jinahbean. Perfect Fridayyyy.

8:11-"totally 80s" night at the #hollywoodbowl w/ @sorenaolsen = totally hilarious.

Thanks September!  You were lovely. 

I leave you with a video of the aforementioned best song ever. Enjoy!

xoxo, 

Annie. 

The Hills Are Alive at the Hollywood Bowl

My roommate and I recently had the wonderful pleasure of attending the annual "Sound of Music Sing-A-Long" at the Hollywood Bowl.  Oh my goodness...  So. Much. Fun. 

Here's the scene: 18,000 enthusiastic superfans (mixed with a few neutral fans, like myself, who enjoyed the movie as a child but haven't seen it in over a decade) in the amazing outdoor amphitheater that is the Hollywood Bowl.  First of all, that venue is incredible no matter what you're seeing- gorgeous setting and you can bring in your own picnic and alcohol. Basically, the best ever.  If you ever get the opportunity to go to a show there, do ittt.  Second of all- have you ever watched a movie with 18,000 people?!  That in itself was a crazy/cool experience. That's almost the population of my hometown! And the majority of those 18K people were in legit costumes. We're not just talking the standard "Swiss mountain boy/girl" costumes (although there was a delightful plethora of those); we're talking truly creative costumes: the cuckoo clock from the song "So Long, Farewell," "snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes," "brown paper packages tied up with string," and pretty much every other item mentioned in the song "My Favorite Things," etc.

To heighten the palpable excitement, the sing-a-long was introduced by the actors/actresses who played the Von Trapp children in the movie! (Yes, they're still alive and well.)  After that memorable intro, the main event started...as Maria ran over that gorgeous green hill, Mckenzie and I joined with the 18,000 people around us and threw our inhibitions to the wayside (another great reason for allowing patrons to BYOB) and sang at the top of our lungs... "The hills are alive with the sound of music...!"  It was absolutely hilarious. The crowd participation did not stop with singing every lyric to every song. No sir. Every time something good happened (like Capt. Von Trapp and Maria looking at each other) the crowd cheered.  Every time the bitchy baroness or a nasty Nazi came on screen, the crowd booed and hissed.  Everyone even got a little goody bag of props to aide in our crowd participation- the best item being a little firecracker/noisemaker thing that people set off at key moments like the Captain and Maria's first kiss and when the Nazi guy pulls out his gun.

I can honestly say this was one of the most FUN movie-going experiences I've ever had. Two thumbs up for suuure. If you can't make it to a sing-a-long with 18,000 people, I highly recommend just watching this old classic again and making your own little sing-a-long in the comfort of your home...I had forgotten how wonderful it is!

I leave you with one of my favorite scenes...  enjoy darlings!

So long, farewell... 

Annie.