Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Movie Review: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Oy.  I couldn’t wait for this top grossing film to be over.  The acting was horrible, the plot was uninteresting… it was 142 minutes too long.  What a waste of a netflick.

More from Boston…

I realize it’s been nearly a month since our visit to Boston, but I wanted to share a few more pictures from the trip.  In addition to visiting the aquarium, we also went to a local zoo.  Allie really enjoyed the birds and the tigers.  She also enjoyed running around in the fresh air!

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These next shots were taken in Christopher Columbus Park in Boston.  It’s just adjacent to one of my new favorite restaurants - Joe’s American Bar & Grill!

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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Restaurant Review: Piccola Venezia – Boston, MA

This is no 5-star restaurant, but if you’re looking for large portions of Italian fare at a decent price in the North End of Boston, then this could be your place.  The interior decor has lots of charm and character and the service was excellent.  There is better tasting food in the North End, but for the price, Piccola Venezia gets the job done.  I have to admit, though, this meal was definitely outshined by the amazing cannolis from Mike’s Pastry that we picked up for dessert.  All I really remember from that night is the delectably, sweet taste of my chocolate covered cannoli.  It is forever embedded in my memory and may have developed into a slight addiction.  I even found out that they deliver nationwide.

Restaurant Review: Joe’s American Bar & Grill – Boston, MA

I have nothing bad to say about this establishment.  The atmosphere was great, the service was great, the food was great, the drinks were great, the bathrooms were great.  What more is there to say?  While visiting Boston for a weekend we hit up this restaurant twice!  The very best part was the bread (which you pull apart) and the pink sangria!  Here are the ingredients for the pink sangria from their menu:

Pink Sangria
A refreshing combination of Rosé Wine, Bacardi Limon Rum, Stoli Razberi Vodka,
DeKuyper Watermelon Schnapps, Massenez Crème de Peche, Sprite and fresh fruit.

If I ever figure out what “Massenez Creme de Peche” is, I may try to make this cocktail at home! Although, what I should do is start petitioning for this restaurant to set up shop in the Albany area!  Who’s with me?

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

101 in 1001: Visit Boston Aquarium – Task Complete

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Movie Review: How to Train your Dragon

This animated movie is one of the top 100 grossing films for good reason.  I thought it was absolutely adorable!  There are some scary/violent scenes, so I wouldn’t recommend it for very young kids, but otherwise, it’s a movie for the whole family.  It teaches tolerance, compassion, and understanding.  It will definitely pull at your heartstrings.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Book Review: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

I read this book because it was recommended by my mother.  She had read it while on a beach vacation and said it was a quick, easy read.  I completely agree.  This fiction novel is about letting down your guard, trusting your instincts, and learning to love again.  Don’t get me wrong, though, it isn’t all rainbows and roses.  It also has themes of death, abuse and betrayal.  The author was able to assume the perspective of three separate characters and maintain a good flow throughout the book.  It had a fairly predictable, but interesting storyline that I enjoyed.  However, I did think it got a bit corny at the very end.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read – something you can put down and come back to without getting lost.  Rating: B

Hoppy Easter!

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