Martin Lieberman and the Indiana Jones Review

25 May

It starts with the hat.

That’s the first thing we see when Indiana Jones is re-introduced to us after a 19-year absence from the big screen. And then the man, in shadow, picks up his iconic headgear, puts it on, and we see his familiar profile.

It’s fitting that this is how we first see the character, because so much of what is beloved about the Indiana Jones series of films is the title character himself, not so much the plots or the sought-after artifact, and his presence, his shadow, lords over the whole proceeding.

And while Indy’s looking a bit older now, I’m happy to say he hasn’t lost his charm. Welcome back. Continue reading →

Semi-Sweet

22 May

A quick update on Sweet, the new cupcake store I wrote about on Tuesday. I stopped in Wednesday night to check it out, and despite a steep price of $3.25 each (whoa!), I bought a Sweet Cake and a Dark Chocolate, both with chocolate frosting. I’m no culinary expert, but I’d like to think I know my cake. And I have to say, I was not blown away. The cupcakes were good — better than those at Kickass Cupcakes in Somerville for sure — but they were not as moist and good and, ahem, sweet as those at Shaw’s (yes, I really just said that). And I liked the vanilla one more than the chocolate one too.

I’ll be honest: because they’re so pricey and so small, I expected a higher quality ‘cake. But I’m a generous soul and I’ll allow that I had high expectations. So this will not be the last time I go to Sweet for cupcakes. I just won’t be rushing back.

White Trash

21 May

To the entitled-looking twentysomething girl in front of me who, after swiping her CharileTicket at the Hynes Convention Center T stop last night, simply flung it on the ground in the middle of the station … WTF?!? You couldn’t just put it in the trash? You almost hit me with it when you threw it on the ground. Thanks for that. But more importantly: WTF? Why are you so obnoxious that you acted so selfishly and carelessly and threw your trash right on the ground? Did you not hear me say, “Are you serious?!” Jeez … what a bitch you are.

Rock On, David Cook. Rock On.

21 May

Woo hoo! There he is, ladies and gentlemen, your new American Idol. I have to admit, I was really excited when this was announced (all things considered, of course).

I was never a fan of David Archuleta and I said as early as February 19 that he would never win. David Cook may not have given the better performance last night, but for most of the season it was pretty clear he was the best contestant. Continue reading →

Now This Is Sweet

19 May

Longtime readers of this blog know about my utter hatred of Johnny Cupcakes. (Alright, fine. “Hate” is a strong word. But I really don’t like the guy.) I mean, how do you open a store called Johnny Cupcakes and NOT sell cupcakes? It’s just cruel. But now the tease in the Back Bay is coming to a close. Today marks the opening of Sweet, an actual cupcake store with what I’m hoping is an accurate name, on Mass Ave. between Marlborough St. and Comm Ave. Hooray! Daily cupcakes include the “Sweet Cake,” which is a creamy Madagascar vanilla bean cake with special Sweet vanilla or Dutch cocoa frosting. Mmmmmm. There will also be seasonal and specialty flavors — and even some Red Sox–themed cupcakes. Granted, the ‘cakes look a little on the small side, but maybe that’s all for the best. Either way, I embrace this new store and hope to make my way over there really soon.

(Thanks to Andrea for the tip.)

"Breathless?"

19 May

Maybe you’ve come to my blog today via Boston.com, which has been linking all day to my recap of this weekend’s festivities at the new MGM Grand at Foxwoods.

Hee hee … they’re calling my post a “breathless celebrity-by-celebrity account.” I love that.

Anyway, if you’re one of the hundreds of folks that Boston.com has sent my way, welcome! I hope you’ll come back.

And if you’re Boston.com, thanks! I hope you’ll keep linking to my site.

He Said to Speak More Gooder

19 May

Because it happened in my ‘hood, I thought I’d call attention to David McCullough’s very amusing commencement address today at Boston College.

Apparently, he spoke about the use of language among America’s youth, and called upon the graduates to speak better, without using words like “like,” “you know,” “totally,” and “actually.”

“Just imagine if in his inaugural address John F. Kennedy had said, ‘Ask not what your country can, you know, do for you, but what you can, like, do for your country actually,” he said.

Ha ha ha … that’s pretty funny.

A Grand Time

19 May

Diddy was there. So were Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Mayer (minus Jennifer Aniston), Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Quincy Jones, Jon Secada, actor Jeffrey Wright, Village Voice columnist Michael Musto, and DJ AM.

Apparently, Nick Cannon (aka the new Mr. Mariah Carey), Kim Kardashian, Whoopi Goldberg, CariDee English from America’s Next Top Model, Pepa from the hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, and Jenny McCarthy were there, too.

And you know who else was at the exclusive, black-tie, invite-only Grand Opening of the new MGM Grand at Foxwoods? That’s right: me. I snagged a V.I.P. pass to the hottest party in Connecticut this weekend, and the event certainly lived up to the hype. Here are some highlights. Continue reading →

Wait for It … Wait for It …

18 May

In honor of all this weekend’s graduates, I present this rather infantile but still amusing sketch from last night’s Saturday Night Live.

http://www.hulu.com/embed/VBcI9MPbxNfq-xjkKUtEXg

And Tomorrow Ain’t As Bad As It Seems

17 May

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the concept of “the good ole days.”

Was the time a few years ago (or whenever your “good ole days” were) really all that good, or was it just good compared to now?

Are things that bad now that we choose to look at the past in a more positive light? Or were we just to naive to realize how bad things were back then?

Do we consciously — or unconsciously — choose to look at the past through rose-colored glasses?

Or, is there just an inherent sense of nostalgia in all of us. Continue reading →

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